Identity theft, in particular, medical identity theft can happen to anyone of us. In fact, this month is one of the most likely months for this crime to be committed. The other likely months are January, February, March, April … yes, any month of the year. And, while a victim of this theft can feel especially vulnerable, most likely “it isn’t personal,” but more likely a crime of opportunity. However, like a home invasion, medical identity theft can upset your life, disrupt your plans, steal your time and take your energy to resolve the situation.
What is medical identity theft?
Medical identity theft can happen when someone steals or talks you into giving them your personal information, such as your name and Medicare number. They can use this to get medical treatment, equipment, or prescriptions and bill Medicare or your prescription drug plan for it. It’s important to protect your Medicare number and only share it with trusted individuals. I suggest keeping your medical records and provider statements in a safe place; these documents include the cards you may keep in your purse or wallet; the paperwork you receive following a visit to the doctor or mail your get at home. If you no longer need to keep old billing statements, I recommend destroying these by using a shredder. I also find a bit of satisfaction watching these burn in the fireplace on a cold winter’s evening.
What can I do if this happens to me?
You should report medical identity theft if:
You gave out your Medicare number over the phone or internet to someone offering a “new” Medicare card.
Similarly, if you provided your Medicare number after you were called unexpectedly to “help you” with durable medical equipment, genetic or dementia testing, cancer screening, or back braces.
You are contacted by a debt collection company for a provider bill you don’t owe.
You received boxes of braces, testing kits, or other medical supplies in the mail that you didn’t request or need.
You were denied coverage, services, or benefits because of a medical condition you don’t have.
If you think that you have been the victim of medical identity theft, you should contact your local police department; remember to write down the report or case number. You may contact your health care provider(s) and the three nationwide credit eporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Additional information on filing a police report and contacting the credit reporting companies may be found at the Federal Trade Commission websites (ftc.gov and identitytheft.gov).
Check your statements for errors, potential fraud, or abuse
Every three months, you should receive a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), either by mail or through your online Medicare.gov account. This document summarizes the Part A and Part B medical care you have received whether from outpatient services or during inpatient hospitalization. Also, your Part D prescription drug plan typically sends you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement after you receive your prescriptions. It is important to remember that neither the MSN nor the EOB is a bill. These documents summarize how much your provider billed, the approved amount your plan will pay, and how much you may owe your provider. Compare your statements to your own records. You may prefer to use the My health Care Tracker pamphlet available from the Medicare Information Office.
It is important to read your MSN and EOB soon after you receive it for accuracy. If you think there has been a billing error, first call your medical provider or your Part D plan to try to get it corrected. If the potential errors are not corrected, if you have additional questions, please call Senior Medicare Patrol professionals at the Medicare Information Office. The SMP program empowers and assists Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse.
For any Medicare related questions, please feel free to contact the State of Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 or 1-907-269-3680; our office is also known as the State health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers (MIPPA) program. If you are part of an agency or organization that assists Seniors with medical resources, consider networking with the Medicare Information Office. Call us to inquire about our Ambassador program.
Sean McPhilamy is a volunteer and Certified Medicare Counselor for the Alaska Medicare Information Office.
