Medical Identity Fraud By The Numbers

CONTENT PROVIDED BY THE NEW YORK ALLIANCE AGAINST INSURANCE FRAUD

• More than 1.4 million people have been victimized by medical identity theft. Victims pay about $20,000 each to resolve their cases, and more than half say they had to pay for medical care they didn't receive in order to restore health coverage. Nearly half of victims also lost health coverage due to the fraud, and nearly one-third said their health premiums rose after they were victimized. Fewer than 10 percent say their incidents were completely resolved. (Ponemon Institute, 2010)

• Medical identity theft is the fastest-growing form of identity theft. (World Privacy Forum, 2006)

• Between 250,000 and 500,000 Americans have been victimized by medical identity theft. (World Privacy Forum, 2006)

• Medical identity theft comprises about 3 percent (249,000) of 8.3 million overall victims of identity theft. (Federal Trade Commission, Identity Theft Survey Report, 2007)

• Nine million adult Americans (4 percent) believe they or a family member has been victimized by medical identity theft. Just under half (47 percent) believe computerized health records are stolen most often. (Harris Interactive, 2008)

• 75 percent of Americans age 18-49 and 78 percent of Americans age 50-plus are concerned about being victims of identity theft in general. 25 percent of Americans aged 18-49 aren't concerned and 22 percent of Americans age 50-plus aren't concerned. (AARP public opinion poll, 2008)

• 36 percent of Americans age 18-49 and 43 percent of Americans age 50-plus carry their Social Security card in their wallet. (ibid)

• 40 percent of Americans age 18-49 carry and 57 percent of Americans age 50-plus carry their insurance or Medicare card in their wallet with an ID number that is their or their spouse's ID number. (ibid)