Anyone can be a victim of medical identity theft, though you’re more at risk if you don’t take steps to protect your personal information. Older adults may be more at risk for fraud, as it’s more difficult for them to avoid scams involving technology. There are other groups at risk: new mothers, people who have undergone surgery, and those with chronic health conditions.
The more you interact with the healthcare system, the greater the opportunity for thieves to take your information if you do not properly protect yourself.
Some helpful for preventing medical identity theft:
- Beware of anyone offering free medical services or equipment, especially if they ask for your health plan’s identification number.
- Don’t share medical, financial, or personal information on the phone with anyone you did not initiate contact with.
- Don’t share personally identifiable information with strangers or over social media.
- Keep any medical records or private information in a safe place or shred it when you’re ready to discard it.
- Read the privacy policy on websites, especially those that seem suspect or that you’re unfamiliar with.
- Ensure that sites start with “https:” for secure instead of “http:” in the address if you’re going to be filling in private information.