Identity theft is scary as it is, but the most dangerous of all kinds of id thefts is what is now known as medical identity theft. The problem is compounded by the fact that most people still think that their information on the medical records is quite safe, and no one can seemingly benefit by knowing this information. The medical fraternity is still considered almost sacred, and that is all the more reason why people are complacent about their information on their medical files. But, in reality this kind of theft could have staggering repercussions. In the US alone, more than 250,000 cases of medical identity theft were reported last year, causing the authorities to stop in their tracks and define this new brand of criminal activity.
What is Medical Identity Theft?

Quite simply put, it is the identity theft where your medical information is stolen, like your medical history or your medical insurance information. Your medical file can contain a lot of information – your name, your medical history, your medical insurance details and even your social security number. It does not take a lot of intelligence to understand how these things in the wrong hands can be used to serve really vile ends.

When your medical information is stolen, these are the things that can happen:-
The id stealer might use your medical information to get certain kinds of treatment, which enter into your medical history. This is commonly found in case of expensive treatments or in treatments and procedures that people would not like to mention or make known to others, an AIDS test, for example.

The Repercussions of Medical Identity Theft

We can see that there are two aspects for medical identity theft – the medical aspect and the financial aspect. In the medical part of this theft, your medical history is tampered with, which might actually deprive you of your own health benefits. In the financial aspect, it could lead to a complete jeopardy in your credit history. The person who has stolen your medical identity might use it to borrow credit. If he or she defaults on the repayments, your own credit is tarnished. Also, when they borrow credit in your name, the credit available to you becomes less.

Not just that, the medical identity theft could put your life itself in peril. Imagine that the person has managed to get into your medical history and then get it changes because of the treatments he or she has acquired in your name. That would change your medical history too. If, looking into this medical history, which you are yet unaware of, the doctor gives you the wrong type of blood, can you save yourself then? Even on a smaller note, the doctor might prescribe you some medicines that are unsuitable to you just because your medical history is now different from what it really is, all thanks to the id thief.

Saving Yourself from Medical Identity Theft

One of the prime reasons why medical identity theft is so lethal is that you need to divulge a lot of this information in public. The receptionist at the healthcare center might ask you of your medical insurance details, and someone might hear it over your shoulder. Or, the files could go into the wrong hands and that could cause all hell to break loose.

Keep a close check on your medical record files. If you can get them online, do a check often. In that way, any new treatments that you have not taken will come under your scrutiny as soon as possible, and you can take quick measures before it becomes too late.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 21st, 2008 at 5:12 am and is filed under Identity Theft Protection. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.