MEDICAL IDENTITY THEFT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH!

Has someone used your personal information to get medical goods or services?  This is "Medical Identity Theft" and it's a serious problem that can result in false health care claims being made to your private health care insurer, Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).

The thief could go one step further and use your medical identity to steal your full identity and that could have a devastating impact on you and your financial security.

Who could steal your Medical Identity?  With the right opportunity and motive, it could be a friend, relative, complete stranger, or even a person working in the health care environment.

Many serious problems can occur when a thief uses your medical identity.  For example:

• Your medical record could be altered or a false medical record created that could be mistaken for yours.  This could have dire health consequences - you may get an incorrect diagnosis, wrong blood transfused, or allergy information may be missed.
• Once-only medical procedures could be denied because the thief has already had them.
• You could be denied health insurance coverage based on false information in your medical record.

Don't be a victim of Medical Identity Theft. Take these steps to protect yourself.

• Guard your provincial health and private insurer cards the way you would a credit card.
• Cross-shred personal documents when discarding.
• During a visit, confirm with your health care provider the date of your last appointment.
• Read your Explanation of Benefits carefully and report anything suspicious to your insurer.

If you suspect that you are the victim of Medical Identity Theft immediately contact your local police service, health insurer and PhoneBusters.

For more information on PhoneBusters contact www.phonebusters.com

For more information on the Canadian Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, contact www,chcaa.org

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                                 Information supplied by the government of Ontario 2010 calendar.