What exactly is medical identity theft?

Medical identity theft is when someone steals and your personal information (like your name, Social Security number, or Insurance ID number), and submits fraudulent claims to your insurance provider without your authorization, and knowledge. Medical identity theft can possible disrupt your medical care and your life.

How can medical theft affect me?

Ruined credit - Thieves will most likely rack up large medical bills in your name. Unpaid medical bills go on your credit report and can ruin your credit.

Loss of health coverage - If someone steals your insurance ID and has a procedure done under your name, the insurance company can deny coverage for you if you need the same procedure done in the future. For example, An identity thief has their appendix removed under your insurance information. We only have one appendix and it does not grow back, so your insurance company would not pay for you to have yours removed ( if needed ) because they think you already had that procedure.

Inaccurate records - Having your Medical ID stolen can lead to incorrect information and diagnoses in a medical record that would be linked to you. Having wrong information in your medical records, such as the wrong blood type, could threaten your health care and sometimes your life.

Legal troubles - Example - A pregnant woman stole the medical identity of a mother, and delivered a baby who tested positive for illegal drugs. Social workers tried to take away the real mother’s four children, falsely thinking she was the addict. She had to hire a lawyer to keep her family together.

Higher health premiums - False claims against a health insurance policy can raise your health premiums - costing you more money when you renew your insurance. If the insurance company thinks you are using more benefits then they can raise your premium rates.

The results of medical identity theft can affect you directly now, and for years to come.

Because of all of the rise of this type of fraud, we at Brondon Foot and Ankle want to help protect your medical identity, require a photo ID (Drivers license, Military ID, Passport, State Issued ID) to be seen in our office and to file a claim with your insurance company.

If you do not wish for us to have a copy of your photo ID to keep in your chart, a photo ID must to be presented at each appointment to confirm your identity. Failure to provide photo ID will result in the rescheduling of the appointment to a time where a photo ID can be presented.