When considering a medical product, ask yourself, “Does this sound too good to be true?” Scammers are actively trying to deceive you into parting with your money through various means, ranging from false therapies to medical identity theft. Unfortunately, these fraudulent activities not only harm your finances but can also jeopardize your health and potentially worsen your condition.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that identifying fake health products is not as difficult as one might think. These products can be found in stores, online, through mail-order catalogs, and may even be spread through word-of-mouth. Understanding how to recognize them is crucial for your health.
Medical identity theft goes beyond just a financial transaction. It can impede your medical care and even lead to legal issues. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), medical identity theft involves using someone else’s name or insurance information to receive medical treatment. It could also mean thieves obtaining prescription drugs, such as opioids, in the victim’s name, potentially causing legal troubles.
Cases of medical identity theft have increased significantly from 6,800 in 2017 to 43,000 in 2021, as reported by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). This form of identity theft is deemed particularly insidious.
Criminals utilize stolen medical identity information, such as cards or numbers, to make fraudulent claims for services or equipment from insurance companies. Your medical records might be tampered with to reflect treatments and services you never received, potentially affecting your subsequent medical care.
Erroneous blood types, fabricated histories of drug or alcohol abuse, test results that do not belong to you, fictional disease records, symptoms, or allergy information could be inserted into your medical records. This could ultimately impact your health, especially in emergencies or situations where you are unable to clarify the misinformation.
Your health may also suffer in other ways as a result. Medical identity theft could lead to reaching insurance coverage limits, affecting your protection. For instance, if you require surgery but your insurance limit has been reached, you may be unable to receive necessary treatment. Furthermore, you may be billed for treatments or medications you never received. Failure to pay these bills could lead to them being sent to collections agencies, negatively impacting your credit score.
Just as you safeguard your credit cards, ensure you protect your insurance and Medicare cards. These cards are of significant value and should be monitored regularly. Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), Explanation of Benefits (EOB), and medical bills for any suspicious charges and promptly rectify any erroneous information.
Only provide your medical information to Medicare-certified doctors, service providers, and suppliers. Beware of schemes that use your Medicare number to lure you with promises of free medical equipment or services.
Shred documents containing your insurance or Medicare numbers. When discarding prescription drug bottles, remove or destroy labels and packaging. Beware of fraudulent health products; they are marketed daily to unsuspecting consumers. You can spot them in television infomercials, newspaper and magazine ads. According to the FDA, consumers spend billions of dollars annually on these fraudulent health products.
The FDA defines health fraud as products that claim to improve health, well-being, or appearance without verified effectiveness. These products could be drugs, devices, foods, or cosmetics for humans or animals. Carefully examine any product and be vigilant for the following warning signs:
Be wary of products claiming to cure various unrelated ailments; no single product can remedy all diseases.
Claims that a product can help with arthritis, infections, heart disease, arteriosclerosis, or a plethora of other ailments are likely false, and you should exercise increased caution.
Cancer, AIDS, and diabetes are frequently mentioned and particularly treacherous, as they may deter patients from seeking legitimate treatment, enticing them with “miracle cures.”
Personal testimonials are vital clues in identifying health fraud, but verifying this evidence can be challenging. Reynaldo Rodriguez, Compliance Officer and Health Fraud Coordinator at the FDA’s Dallas office, points out that personal testimonials are among the weakest forms of scientific evidence, often comprising multiple layers of hearsay.
The term “natural” is commonly used as a catchy term in health fraud, implying products are safer than traditional therapies. However, “natural” does not equate to “safe.” Shelly Maifarth, Compliance Officer and Health Fraud Coordinator at the FDA’s Denver office, notes that 60% of over-the-counter drugs and 25% of prescription drugs are based on natural ingredients. She emphasizes that any product, whether synthetic or natural, with potent effects can trigger side effects.
Proven treatments or newly discovered therapies
The FDA report highlights caution against terms like “innovative therapy,” “miracle cure,” “exclusive product,” or “new discovery,” as such claims are highly suspicious. If these were genuinely effective treatments, they should be part of mainstream medicine rather than solely promoted on a website or late-night television program.
“Traditional therapies” are also often considered fraudulent. This serves as a crucial warning signal. Fraudulent product sellers do not linger in one place for long. So if someone promises “rapid weight loss” or “complete pain relief,” do not expect a refund when the product proves ineffective.
Products claiming collusion between healthcare providers and legitimate manufacturers solely to profit off you by pushing lawful treatments, drugs, or equipment are merely attention-grabbers.
Upon discovering health fraud, first inform your family and friends to prevent them from becoming future victims. Then report the fraud to the FTC’s fraud division. If you detect errors in your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) or Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), promptly notify your healthcare insurance company and Medicare.
If you receive bills for medical services you did not receive, inform your healthcare service providers, including hospitals. This can save you money and prevent debt collection efforts.
Before purchasing a product, ask yourself, “Does this sound too good to be true?” Consult your healthcare service provider before buying. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau or your state’s Attorney General’s office to inquire whether the product has been subject to complaints.
注：原文為大紀元時報網站發布，文章作者為匿名。