Health care data breaches reached record levels in 2023, with ransomware attacks and targeting of third-party vendors contributing to the increase. This exposes patients to risks such as identity theft and insurance fraud. Errol Weiss from the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center advises against sharing sensitive information through insecure communication channels.
To determine if your data has been breached, organizations are required to report security breaches that expose patient information to Health and Human Services. You can search for breaches by company name, type or location to see if your data has been compromised.
If your health data has been compromised, steps recommended by the Federal Trade Commission include enrolling in identity and credit monitoring services, checking for signs of medical identity theft, and reporting any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities. Contact the three major credit bureaus if your Social Security number has been stolen and review your credit reports for unauthorized activity.
Be vigilant for bills for medical services you did not receive and contact your insurance provider immediately if you detect fraudulent charges. Report any suspicious activity to your local law enforcement agency, file a police report, and keep a copy for creditors. File an identity theft report with the FTC and report any fraudulent use of your stolen medical information to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
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