Health insurance is supposed to provide access to necessary treatments, preventive services, and emergency care. Unfortunately, it’s also being used by scammers for fraudulent paydays. In February, Change Healthcare fell victim to a cyber-attack that impacted thousands of healthcare providers, insurers, and policyholders nationwide. The alarming part? Reports suggest that around 50% of all U.S. medical claims could be at risk. Imagine sitting in a waiting room with nine other people—there’s a good chance that five of you could fall victim to medical identity theft within the year.

Once your medical information is exposed online, identity thieves can use it to file false claims, buy expensive prescriptions, and more—all conveniently billed to your account.

Many people discover they’ve been affected by medical fraud when they face tax or mortgage issues, or worse, when they go to the doctor only to find their insurance provider has rejected their coverage. This happens because someone else has stolen their medical ID and used it for fraudulent procedures, leaving victims with bills they never incurred.

Even more alarming is that manipulative organizations can exploit your medical information for fake billing schemes. These criminals submit false claims for services you never received, collect their payday, and leave you with the bill. For example, in July, 193 defendants, including 76 medical professionals, were charged for their involvement in healthcare fraud schemes, resulting in $2.75 billion in false billings.

As an individual relying on health insurance, your goal is to protect yourself and your family from medical fraud. However, the increasing threat of medical ID theft and fraudulent claims can disrupt your access to healthcare and impact your financial security. By recognizing the warning signs and taking proactive measures, you can protect yourself from these dangerous scams.

At NetWerks Strategic Services, we understand the complexities of medical fraud and the importance of safeguarding your personal information. Our mission is to provide you with the knowledge and tools to defend yourself against medical ID theft and fraudulent billing schemes.

Actionable Advice and Solutions

How Do You Know If You’re a Victim?

Here are 10 signs that your medical ID may have been stolen:

  1. Unexpected Medical Bills: Receiving bills for services you didn’t receive is a major red flag.
  2. Collection Notices: Being contacted by debt collectors for unpaid medical bills that aren’t yours.
  3. Errors in Medical Records: Finding inaccuracies in your medical records, such as treatments you never had or unfamiliar diagnoses.
  4. Insurance Issues: Your health insurance claims are denied because your benefits have been maxed out, despite not using the services.
  5. Notifications From Your Insurance Provider: Receiving alerts about claims or services you don’t recognize.
  6. Unknown Accounts: Discovering new health insurance accounts or medical records under your name that you didn’t create.
  7. Discrepancies in Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB): EOB statements listing services you didn’t receive.
  8. Being Denied Insurance: Having difficulty obtaining insurance due to medical conditions listed in your records that you don’t have.
  9. Calls From Medical Providers: Receiving calls about appointments or treatments you never had.
  10. Unfamiliar Prescriptions: Notices about prescriptions being filled in your name that you didn’t authorize.

How Can You Prevent Becoming a Victim of Medical ID Fraud?

To avoid becoming the next victim, follow these key steps:

  • Check for Healthcare Breaches: Use searchable databases to find out if your healthcare information has been compromised.
  • Secure Your Records: Store paper copies of medical records in a safe or lockbox. If your healthcare provider’s system is compromised, having your own records will be invaluable.
  • Shred Documents: Shred any documents containing personal information before discarding them.
  • Monitor Your Medical Records: Regularly request and review your medical records for unfamiliar treatments or diagnoses.
  • Review Insurance Bills: Carefully review EOB statements and insurance bills for any services you did not receive. Report any errors to your insurer and the credit bureaus at IdentityTheft.gov.
  • Dispose of Prescription Labels: Remove labels from empty prescription bottles before discarding them to prevent identity theft.
  • Monitor Your Credit: Use AnnualCreditReport.com to get three free credit reports a year and monitor for suspicious activity.

The Transformation You Can Achieve

By staying vigilant and following these best practices, you can protect yourself from the devastating effects of medical fraud. Proactively monitoring your medical records, securing your personal information, and using available tools will help ensure you’re not caught off guard by fraudulent activity.

Medical fraud and identity theft are real threats, and it’s important to take proactive measures. We can help you find out if you’ve been affected with our FREE Dark Web Scan. Using this technology, we can quickly determine if your information has been sold on the dark web or if you’ve been a victim of a data breach.

To book your Dark Web Scan, call us at 413-786-9675 or click here today.

At [Company Name], we are your trusted ally, guiding you to protect your medical information and financial security from cyber threats.