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As a valued employee, the BenefitsVIP contact center is a CONFIDENTIAL hotline and is completely FREE to you and your immediate family. This powerful, one-stop contact center handles all your benefits issues, questions and concerns. Included in this service is this monthly newsletter designed to provide you and your family with important health and wellness information.
 
 

Medical identity theft is on the rise!
 250,000 to 500,000 Americans have already been victims, according to the World Privacy Forum. This newsletter will help prevent you from being a statistic!

WHAT IS IT?
Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information to collect money, prescription drugs or health services without your consent.

YOU COULD BE AFFECTED!
Victims of medical identity theft may:

  • Receive the wrong medical treatment
  • Find their health insurance exhausted and could become uninsurable for both life and health insurance coverage
  • Fail physical exams for employment due to the presence of diseases in their health record that do not belong to them

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

  1. Call BenefitsVIP if you have any suspicion that your identity may have been compromised
  2. Closely monitor all “Explanation of Benefits” sent by your health insurer
  3. Once a year, request or view online from your carrier’s website, a listing of benefits paid in your name by your health insurer
  4. Request an accounting Personal Health Information disclosures made by health care providers or insurers
  5. View your current medical files from each health care provider by requesting a copy or personally viewing them and correct erroneous and false information in your medical files
  6. Monitor your credit report for collection notices for hospital and medical services
   
 
 

After being billed by her surgeon continuously for almost 2 years, a new employee called her BenefitsVIP Representative for help. A quick and thorough investigation of all claims paid for her surgery showed that the hospital was paid twice, once by the employee and once by the carrier, but the surgeon was not paid at all. Her BenefitsVIP Representative worked her magic to prove to the hospital they were paid twice and should reimburse the employee the overpayment. The hospital quickly reimbursed the employee who then was able to pay the surgeon.

Both the employee and the surgeon’s office were very appreciative for the intervention. The employee felt that without the help of her BenefitsVIP Representative, this issue would have never been resolved. The surgeon’s office said they wished all of their patients had advocates like BenefitsVIP to help them.
 

 

 
   

Health care fraud accounts for an estimated 3 – 10% of all health care costs, or 80 - 120 billion dollars of loss per year;

There have been 19,428 complaints regarding medical identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission since January 1, 1992 (when complaints first started to be recorded);

Some individuals and organizations believe that making medical records electronic will reduce medical identity theft and fraud.

Be Cautious! Corporate Synergies recommends you should be wary of:

  • Free medical exams
  • Co-payment waivers
  • Advertisements stating “covered by insurance.”

Your healthcare ID card is as valuable as a credit card. If lost or stolen, a healthcare card could be used to gain access to drugs and services that may permanently appear on your medical history.

How do I notify the health plan of a complaint against a provider?
If you have any questions or problems with a provider or a medical facility, call your Corporate Synergies BenefitsVIP Representative for assistance.

What should I do if I think my provider is committing healthcare fraud?
Most health insurance carriers have established special hotlines for members to report suspected healthcare fraud. Your Corporate Synergies BenefitsVIP Representative can assist you with getting in touch with the correct people to report any incidents.

 
 
   
Your BenefitsVIP Representative
Is Here to Assist You With
  • Benefits Inquiries
  • Claims Problems
  • Eligibility Questions
  • Plan/Policy Explanations
  • Provider Issues
  • Health Advocacy
  We’re Here to Help You With Employee Benefits Issues
Call Corporate Synergies at 866.CSG.1719
 
1.866.CSG.1719 | 200 East Park Drive | Suite 600 | Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 | www.corpsyn.com
© 2007 Corporate Synergies Group, Inc. Corporate Synergies S.M. Corporate Synergies Group, Inc.
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