subject: The Growing Problem Of Medical Identity Theft In America [print this page] Medical identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country, and although its a worldwide problem, it seems to be hitting America especially hard. In fact, nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims of medical identity theft a statistic with an estimated total cost of $28.6 billion, which works out to about $20,000 per victim. The credit restoration process for something like that is especially painful, as it affects several parts of each persons life.
For one, it doesnt just affect the victims credit; it also affects the victims medical history, too. Since no credit repair company can adjust a persons medical records, the fradulent charges end up costing more than just money. Victims of medical identity theft often have a difficult time getting health insurance due to pre-existing conditions, regardless of whether or not the conditions were actually their own.
Since a credit repair company cant use the credit restoration process to fix the problems caused by medical theft, the only real course of action people can take are preventative. Here are some ideas that can help you avoid the credit restoration process and forever damaged medical records:
Invest in a credit protection service. Sure, itll cost a few dollars each month, but having somebody watching out for your credit and health history could be well worth the money. Plus, it could save you from having to pay a credit repair company for credit restoration.
Shred everything that has your information on it. Even if it seems like a benign letter, if it has your name, address or phone number on it, identity thieves can use it to steal your medical or financial identity. Dont risk throwing papers directly into the trash always shred them first.
Monitor your credit report. You can check all three of your credit reports for free, once a year. Be sure to inspect yours closely, and dispute any errors immediately.
