The NY Times has been running an occasional series on identity theft, with the most recent article noting that much identity theft is done by illegal immigrants to have documents for work.

What was scary was related articles on identity thieves using someone's ID as an alias when arrested - giving the innocent victim a criminal record that comes up at a traffic stop or when applying for a job or for credit, and another article on thieves using one's ID to obtain medical services - thus adding incorrect information to your medical records. I have read of criminals using stolen ID (or even just a relative's name), but the idea of medical identity theft had never occurred to me.

Here's a link to a basic article on how to protect yourself:

basic protection

I think it will be very difficult to avoid using your SS# for ID in medical situations, as both medical providers and medical insurance providers insist on it to prevent confusing one person with another.

I would add, from one of the articles, treat your medical insurance card as carefully as you do a credit card. The article on medical ID theft also says be wary of "free checkup" offers and offers of checkups with no co-pay.

If anyone is interested more lengthy articles about the use of stolen identities in criminal and medical situations, here are the links:

article

dealing with medical ID theft

dealing with criminal Id theft

By Dawnk777 on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 08:16 am:

Our health insurance company went away from using social security numbers, on the cards. It's a good thing.

By Karen~admin on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 09:16 am:

I actually had this happen (medical ID theft) a few years ago. A hospital I had never been to in another city kept calling me about an unpaid bill. I finally got through to them that it was not ME. And yes, I have recent credit reports, so I know *I* have not been reported.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 12:44 pm:

Karen, you should write to the hospital and tell them you believe you have been a victim of identity theft for medical reasons, and that any records they have in "your" name are not actually your records. I do think it is potentially dangerous to have medical records that are not yours out there with your name on them.

By Crystal915 on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 03:50 pm:

Ginny, this is a big concern for military dependants, since our SS numbers are our insurance numbers, and both mine and DH's are on my ID card, which I have to show at least 3 or 4 times a day. Basically, if someone stole my ID card, they'd have everything.

By Hol on Monday, September 4, 2006 - 11:49 pm:

Crystal, that has been a real concern of mine, too. You used to have to write your sponsor's SS# on checks at the commissary. Checks pass through many hands.

I have also seen doctor's offfice personnel photo copy your ID card for your medical record. If they accidently make a mistake or a duplicate, I've seen them throw it in the wastebasket in one piece. I always ask for it, and take it home and shred it.

Our car insurance company used to use my DH's SS# as our policy number. It was on the insurance ID cards that you carry in the vehicle. I was once in an accident with a real shady looking character who tried to resist me when I told him I had called the police (he was at fault. Turns out he had no insurance). We had to exchange insurance information, and I did not like him having DH's SS#. Shortly after that, the comapny assigned us new numbers, so I guess enough people complained.

It's all very scary.

By Kim on Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 10:18 am:

someone I worked with used to live in Texas. Her husband's social was stolen and sold to over FIFTY illegals. They are in ID THEFT HELL.