Medical identity theft — someone using your identity to get healthcare — is less discussed than credit card fraud but can be more dangerous, because it corrupts your medical records. Here are the questions to ask.
What does it look like? A thief uses your name, insurance information, or Social Security number to see doctors, fill prescriptions, or file insurance claims. You might discover it through a bill for care you never received, an Explanation of Benefits listing unknown treatments, or a collection notice from a medical provider.
Why is it more serious than other fraud? Beyond the bills, the thief’s medical history can merge into your records — wrong blood type, allergies, diagnoses, or prescriptions. In an emergency, corrupted records can lead to dangerous treatment decisions. Correcting medical files is as important as disputing the charges.
How do I dispute the fraudulent bills? Contact the provider’s billing department and fraud office in writing, explain the care was not yours, and request that the account be closed and removed from collections. File a report at IdentityTheft.gov and consider a police report, just as with financial identity theft.
How do I fix my medical records? Request your records from each provider involved and ask in writing that fraudulent entries be corrected or flagged. Follow up until you have written confirmation — medical record corrections can take persistence.
Should I still check my credit reports? Yes. Unpaid medical bills from identity theft often land in collections and appear on credit reports. Pull all three reports and dispute every fraudulent medical collection.
How do I prevent it? Guard your insurance cards like credit cards, review every Explanation of Benefits, shred medical mail with personal details, and place the same freezes and fraud alerts you would for financial identity theft.
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