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ber.
• • Never let people borrow your Medicare or insurance card to obtain services for themselves. Not only is this illegal, but it could be disastrous if your medical histories become intermingled (think about differing allergies, blood types, etc.)
• • Regularly check your credit reports for unpaid bills for unfamiliar medical services or equipment. This could indicate someone has opened a new insurance policy using your identity and is running up charges.
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• If you suspect or know your information has been compromised, ask for copies of your medical records from each doctor, hospital, pharmacy, lab or health plan where a thief may have used your information. Also request a copy of their "Accounting of Disclosures" form, which lists everyone who got copies of your medical records.
• Next, write them all by certified mail explaining which information is inaccurate, along with copies of documents supporting your position. Ask them to correct or delete all errors and to inform everyone they may have sent records to (labs, other doctors, hospitals, etc.) Keep copies of all correspondence and logs of all phone calls or other related activities.
• You can also file a police report and contact the fraud units at the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You may want to place a fraud alert or freeze on your accounts. Visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft site for more information (www.consumer.ftc.gov).
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• Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney.
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