Council on Aging - Answers 2023 - 71

COUNCIL ON AGING - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Medical
Identity
Theft
Medical identity theft is a serious business.
According to one study, about 1.5 million adults are
victims of medical identity theft each year.
Medical ID theft occurs when someone steals
personal information - such as your name and
Medicare number - and uses the information to
get medical treatment, prescription drugs, surgery
and/or other services and then bills Medicare for
it. A thief may use your name or health insurance
numbers to see a doctor, get prescription drugs,
file phony claims with your insurance provider, or
get other care. If the thief's health information is
mixed with yours, your treatment, insurance, and
payment records, or credit report may be affected.
If you see signs of medical identity theft, order
copies of your records and check for mistakes. You
have the right to correct these mistakes. Medical
ID theft can cause financial harm, but it is about
more than just losing time and money. Sometimes
people are denied Medicare coverage for a service
or medical equipment because their records falsely
show they already received it, when in fact it went
to someone posing as them. It can affect your
medical and health insurance records.
Every time a thief uses your identity to get
care, a record is created with incorrect medical
information about you.
How Do You Learn if You Are a Victim?
Here are some warning signs that your identity
may have been stolen:
n You get a bill for medical services you did
not receive.
Council On Aging - Southern California | 714-479-0107 | www.coasc.org
n You are contacted by a debt collection
company for money you do not owe.
n Your insurance company says you've reached
your limit on medical benefits.
n You are denied insurance for a medical
condition you did not have.
How to Avoid Medical Identity Theft
Protect your Medicare and other health
insurance cards in the same way you would
protect a credit card.
n Review your Medicare Summary Notices
(MSN), Explanations of Benefits (EOB) statements
and medical bills for suspicious charges. If you
find incorrect information in your records, insist
that it be corrected or removed.
n Only give personal information to Medicareapproved
doctors, other providers and suppliers,
your State Health Insurance Assistance Program
or Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) program,
or the Social Security Administration. Call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800- 633-4227) if you aren't
sure if a provider is approved by Medicare.
n Beware of offers of free medical equipment,
services, or goods in exchange for your Medicare
number.
If you believe your Medicare card has been used
fraudulently, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227).
For more information about Medicare fraud,
visit Medicare.gov or contact your local Senior
Medicare Patrol program at 1-877-808-2468.
Reprinted from Money Smart for Older Adults
Resource Guide. To learn more visit FDIC.gov
Answers Guide 23/24
71
INSURANCE
http://www.Medicare.gov http://www.FDIC.gov http://www.coasc.org
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