Protect yourself from medical identity theft

What is medical identity theft?

Every year, as many as 9 million Americans are victims of "identity theft" - the crime of taking someone else's personal information and using it without that person's knowledge to get something of value. "Medical identity theft" refers specifically to the use of your health insurance or health information by someone who has no right to it.

Examples of medical identity theft include:

• Someone takes your Priority Health ID card to get services from a doctor or hospital, or to get prescription drugs from a pharmacy.
• You lend someone your Priority Health ID card and they use it to get services or prescription drugs.
• A doctor or hospital uses your Priority Health ID number and your health care information to bill Priority Health for services you didn't get.

See more examples of fraud & abuse

How does medical identity theft hurt you?

When someone else uses your ID card, it can create many problems.

• If your medical history lists health problems that you do not have, your doctor might treat you with services or drugs that are wrong for you. 
• Wrong information on your medical records could keep you from getting life insurance.
• You might get the wrong type of blood in an emergency if your records say you have a different blood type.
• You might be expected to pay medical bills that are not yours, and if you don't pay these bills, it could hurt your credit record.

Steps to take to protect yourself

Protecting yourself from medical identity theft is much easier than dealing with it once it's happened.

• Only share your personal information (your Social Security number, date of birth, account numbers or health insurance information) with your doctor or other health care provider.
• Protect your Priority Health ID card from loss or theft the same way you protect your credit cards.
• Register your account here at priorityhealth.com so you can check your medical and prescription claims online. Just click Register now on the home page of this website.
• Once you log in to your account online, you can review your claims. If you see claims for services or drugs you didn't get, report it to Priority Health right away.
  
• Check your credit report once a year for free at www.annualcreditreport.com to make sure it's correct.
• You may want to visit these websites for tips on protecting yourself from other forms of identity theft:
• The Federal Trade Commission identity theft website: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
  
• The World Privacy Forum website: www.worldprivacyforum.org/medidtheft_consumertips.html
• www.Michigan.gov/identity-theft

How Priority Health protects your information

We are required by state and federal laws to keep your personal information confidential, in all our records, paper and electronic. 
Read about Priority Health privacy practices.