Health insurance cards the new ‘it’ item for ID thieves

June 22, 2010 – 10:46 am

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that up to 9 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year through stolen driver’s licenses, credit cards and Social Security numbers.

And now those thieves have a new target: health insurance cards. Criminals are using the cards to obtain medical treatment, drugs and, in some cases, surgery.

Doctors’ offices are making an effort to thwart this type of theft by asking for photo identification along with the insurance card. Some offices are even photographing their patients.

The 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report, conducted by Javelin Strategy and Research, showed that 7 percent of identity fraud victims reported stolen health insurance information. That’s up from the 3 percent reported last year.

The increase is due, according to experts, mostly to the easy access of electronic medical records and the large numbers of people without health coverage.

Law enforcement official strongly urge consumers to guard their insurance cards, just as they would any other form of sensitive personal information.

Insurance industry officials caution consumers to closely study the information they receive from insurance providers. Check your explanation of benefits to make sure it’s appropriate, and that there are no listed procedures that you didn’t have done.

Senior citizens are particularly susceptible to this type of fraud, particularly to scam artists posing as Medicare officials who ask for personal information via telephone. Industry officials warn that no one should give out their personal information, including health insurance identification numbers, over the telephone.

Consumers who suspect identity theft should contact their health insurance companies immediately. A new card will be provided with no interruption of service.

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