The last time federal data on the crime was collected, for a 2007 report, more than 250,000 Americans a year were victims of medical identity theft.
That number has almost certainly increased since then, because of the increased use of electronic medical records systems built without extensive safeguards, said Pam Dixon, executive director of the nonprofit World Privacy Forum and author of a report on medical identity theft.
[Victims] may not know that their medical information has been tampered with for months or even years until, as in Mr. Sharp's case, it shows up in collections on a credit report.
In Mr. Sharp's case, someone got hold of his name and Social Security number and used them to receive emergency medical services, which many hospitals are obliged to provide whether or not a person has insurance.
With medical identity theft, the fraudulent charges can remain unpaid and unresolved for years, permanently damaging your credit rating.
Even when you are able to correct a record, say in your doctor's office, the erroneous information may have been passed on to dozens of other health care providers and insurers.
Automated summary from: New York Times
