It has been recently brought to my attention that there is a new form of Identification theft.
Medical ID Theft

As I understand it, bad people out there are stealing Health Insurance and personal information and then using it to get "free" health care.  It doesn't surprise me as health care has become so expensive that it is now a major commodity that's worth stealing.

What is even scarier about this is it can affect your health.  If persons claiming to be you seek health care from a physician or hospital their diagnosis and medical records will be linked to you.  It could affect your insurance coverage as well as possibly link medical conditions or allergies to you that you do not have.

This is just a reminder to be careful and protect your personal information.  Your Insurance cards and benefits records (which you receive in the mail) could all be used to gain access to your Insurance coverage. 

Thanks to the fine people at "The Prescriber's Letter" for creating a nice patient informational sheet on this topic. 

Medical Identification Theft Info Sheet from The Prescriber's Letter