The Daily Herald ran this interesting article on August 4th and I thought I’d share it with our visitors.  It shared that everyone knows to be on the lookout for financial identity theft, but in reality, stolen medical credentials are more valuable on the scammers’ black market than financial information.

While personal data sells for about $25 — stolen health insurance and medical records can fetch about $2,000.  To help those at risk, AARP Bulletin scam expert Sid Kirchheimer gives tips to avoid having your medical identity stolen.

• Read every letter from medical insurers and health care providers, including those that say “this is not a bill.” If you see a doctor’s name or treatment date that isn’t familiar, speak up.
• Once a year, ask your insurers for a listing of benefits paid out in your name. Make sure everything is accurate, including your address.
• Guard your health insurance card and number as carefully as you would a credit card or bank account number. If you lose your wallet, immediately contact your insurance provider.
• Ask all of your doctors to make copies of everything in your file (you may have to pay for them) so you’ll have a “paper trail” if needed.