Medicare Beneficiaries at Risk of Identity Theft
June 24, 2008 – 11:38 amSocial security numbers are plastered across Medicare cards that are used by millions of Americans. Social security officials are calling for immediate action to issue new Medicare cards that do not display the SSN. However, Medicare officials are reluctant to do this. They state that it would be to costly to even consider.
“Displaying such information on Medicare cards unnecessarily places millions of individuals at risk for identity theft,” Mr. O’Carroll said. “We do not believe a federal agency should place more value on convenience than the security of its beneficiaries’ personal information.”
The only way to force Medicare to remove the social security numbers from its beneficiaries cards would be to get Congress involved. There are currently 40 million individuals who are 65 and older or are disabled that are covered under Medicare. This means that there are 40 million people walking around with Medicare cards that dangerously display their social security number. Putting this many people at such an unnecessary risk is just absolutely ridiculous.
Private health insurance providers do not place SSN on their beneficiaries cards. Private insurance companies have recognized that medical identity theft is one of the fastest growing types of fraud therefore have taken the appropriate steps to protect the identity of their clients. Medicare’s priorities are not quite on par.
