By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    HIPPA compliance
    How Medical Office Staff Can Make Your Practice HIPAA Compliant
    October 29, 2021
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    February 10, 2022
    Which Mushroom Capsules Are Good for Your Health?
    May 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Image
    Healthcare Pricing Transparency Gains Momentum
    June 24, 2013
    non-clinical care factors in health outcomes
    Addressing Non-Clinical Care Factors in Health Outcomes
    November 15, 2013
    e interventions
    Healthcare Progress Depends On “E Interventions”
    July 10, 2014
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Dealing With A Health Crisis? Avoid Medical Identity Theft With These Tips
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Medical Records > Dealing With A Health Crisis? Avoid Medical Identity Theft With These Tips
Medical RecordsNewsSocial MediaTechnology

Dealing With A Health Crisis? Avoid Medical Identity Theft With These Tips

samcasteris
samcasteris
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

 

Contents
1. Keep your Medical Information Private2. Invest in a Shredder3. Communicate with your Insurance Provider4. Thoroughly Read your Documents5. Stay Up-to-Date About Current ScamsConclusion

There’s never an optimal time to deal with identity theft and fraud, but one of the very worst times is during or following a health-related crisis or flare.

Unfortunately, medical identity fraud and theft is an exceedingly pervasive problem, and its consequences can be devastating. Even worse, those with long-term or chronic illnesses are more likely to fall victim to these types of crimes. This is due to the frequency of which they need to share sensitive information with hospitals, doctors, and insurers. Why would someone commit such a crime?

Generally, medical identity thieves use another person’s information to claim doctoral services, drugs, or treatments for themselves. It’s a dangerous practice, medical identity theft can lead to misplaced or mixed-up medical records. This can have terrible consequences for the victim, who may not receive proper health care as a result. It also will cost a shockingly high amount of money to untangle. Being a victim of medical identity theft can lead to tragedy, but it can also be prevented. Protect yourself, and your security, by following these hard and fast rules:

More Read

Math Matters: Dosing Errors Can Be Deadly
A Guide To Transitioning Your Chiropractic Practice To Telemedicine
How Can Radiologists Improve Quality of Patient Care?
The STAT Ten: Tim Moore Speaks Out On Innovation, Technology and Digital Health
Keeping Patient Data Secure in a Digital World

1. Keep your Medical Information Private

We are living in a time of constant digital communication, and it often leads to people sharing private information with strangers. It’s crucial to remember that some information is never meant to be shared with others, particularly your medical and identifying records. Things like your Social Security Number or health insurance ID are always to be kept far away from prying eyes. Your medical providers, of course, will be asking for this information. Before telling them anything, we recommend that you ask them a few questions first: clarify what they need it for, who else will have access to your information,  and where it will be stored. Once you feel confident with their replies, you can share your private details, but we still advise you to do it face-to-face, rather than digitally or over the phone.

2. Invest in a Shredder

If you are managing a long-term diagnosis or chronic illness, it’s likely that you have acquired a fair amount of medical paperwork over time. Generally, these documents are teeming with personal information, from your medical history to your identifying numbers. Eventually, you might want to throw these documents away, and it’s imperative to do so as securely as possible. To avoid any opportunists sifting through your recycling bin, it’s best to thoroughly shred all of your sensitive documents before throwing them away lest they end up in the wrong hands.

3. Communicate with your Insurance Provider

It’s wise to check in with your health insurance provider every so often; they should have a record of all the benefits that have been paid under your name. Ask them to provide this list for you, and look out for anything that doesn’t sound familiar. If anything raises suspicion, you will be able to quickly jump into action.

4. Thoroughly Read your Documents

Whenever you pay for any medical service with your health insurance, you receive a document. It’s called your Explanation of Benefits, and it’s from your insurers. It explains what service you were provided and which parts of it are covered by your plan.

5. Stay Up-to-Date About Current Scams

Scammers and identity thieves are always coming up with new ways to steal information. To avoid falling victim to medical fraud or identity theft, it’s best to stay in the know about which tactics identity thieves are currently using.

One current scam involves offering free medical equipment (such as accessories for hearing aids) to a potential victim. The scammer will claim that, in order to receive this “free gift,” one must provide their health insurance information. Offers like this generally seem too good to be true – because they are. When in doubt, be sure to ask for some time to research the people or company who contacted you. It’s better to be safe than sorry in these situations.

Conclusion

Avoiding medical identity theft involves remaining vigilant and being careful. Be sure to ask questions when in doubt, and be safe rather than sorry.

TAGGED:data privacyhealth data securityhealth information securityidentity theftmedical datamedical identity theftmedical information
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By samcasteris
Follow:
Sam Casteris is a research-driven content writer with experience in health and wellness, travel, and finance.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025
paramedics in surgical gloves and masks
How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
Health care
July 16, 2025

You Might also Like

Ebola or Epic: Which Do US Hospitals Fear More?

October 9, 2014
Hemostat-number-companies-2012
BusinessMedical Devices

The Undeniable Hemostasis Opportunity

May 2, 2012
Technology

What To Know About The Art And Science Of Healthcare Design

April 1, 2019
eHealthHealth careNews

How Machine Learning Is Shaping The Future Of Precision Medicine

December 28, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?