Imagine this: you visit your doctor for what you think is a routine appointment, only to find out that your medical records show treatments you’ve never had and prescriptions you’ve never filled. You’re likely confused and afraid, as this likely means someone has stolen your identity. Unfortunately, medical identity theft isn’t just another headline or rare data breach story; it’s real, and it can happen to anyone. If you’re a victim, please don’t hesitate to contact a skilled New Mexico identity theft lawyer from Feferman, Warren & Mattison for assistance.
What Does Medical Identity Theft Look Like?
Medical identity theft doesn’t always look the same from one case to the next, but at its heart, it’s when someone uses your personal information, like your Social Security number, insurance details, or even your Medicare ID, to get medical treatment, prescription drugs, or to file false claims. In many cases, victims don’t even realize what’s happening until the bills arrive or a debt collector calls about procedures they never received.
That said, some of the most common examples of medical identity theft are as follows:
- Using another person’s insurance to receive medical care
- Filing false claims for reimbursement
- Stealing Medicare numbers for unauthorized treatments
- Obtaining prescription medications under someone else’s name
- Selling stolen patient information on the dark web
- Altering or falsifying medical records for financial gain
- Posing as a medical provider to bill for fake services
How Can You Protect Yourself?
Start by treating your medical information the same way you would treat your banking information. Don’t share it unless absolutely necessary. Review every medical bill and insurance statement carefully, and question anything that looks unfamiliar or suspicious. If you receive a bill for services you never received, contact your insurance provider and the healthcare facility immediately.
If you think you’ve been a victim, you should also request copies of your medical records from all providers and review them for inaccuracies. Under federal law, you have the right to correct any false information listed in your records. And if your situation is complicated, or if the theft led to significant damage, you should strongly consider speaking with a consumer lawyer who can contact insurers, notify the proper authorities, and even pursue compensation if your personal data was exposed due to negligence.
Ultimately, medical identity theft isn’t something you can afford to ignore, as it can impact your credit, your insurance coverage, and even your safety if false information ends up in your medical files. For this reason, the sooner you act, the better.
If you have additional questions or would like to speak with a knowledgeable attorney about your case, please don’t hesitate to contact Feferman, Warren & Mattison for an initial consultation today.
