Protect Yourself From Medical Scams and Theft
Use these strategies to keep your personal information safe
Your personal health information should be kept private for several reasons.
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Illustration: Chris Philpot
The Legal Limits
Many people may have the mistaken impression that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects all types of sensitive health information. But HIPAA applies only to certain “covered entities,” such as doctors and insurance companies. Generally speaking, health info you share with anyone other than your doctor or insurer isn’t protected.
Editor’s Note: A version of this article also appeared in the September 2022 issue of Consumer Reports On Health.
