How Health Care Fraud Affects You

By Adriana Noton

People always look for ways to get something for nothing. This may be even truer in cases of health care fraud. This affects each and every person in the United States in a number of ways. If you know of anyone committing any type of health care fraud then you should report them to the proper authorities right away. Help protect your family and everyone in America by helping to wipe out this type of fraud. A criminal attorney in Fort Lauderdale or even a criminal lawyer may be needed.

Fraud within the health care system raises insurance prices. For every claim insurance companies pay that are fraudulent we pay higher premiums. It may not be fair but this is exactly what happens. The premiums are raised so that companies can recuperate money that has been paid out to those who shouldn't have received it to begin with.

Health care fraud within the government has an even bigger affect. Not only do your tax dollars pay for this but it means that care may be taken away from those who deserve it and are in desperate need. Imagine children not being able to receive care they need because an adult is getting free care simply because they don't want to work.

This type of fraud also leads to stricter policies and regulations. Medicine that is needed may not be available to some people because a select few abuse it. Pain medicine is the most widely regulated due to people with addictions. This in turn means that some people may suffer in pain due to not being able to get the proper medications.

Of course it isn't just individuals who commit fraud. Doctors and hospitals are involved as well. Some may submit bills for services they didn't provide. Some doctors and hospitals have even gone as far as to create ghost patients. Often times this could be as simple as performing procedures that are not necessary.

Some of these types of fraud are very hard to prove. Unnecessary procedures, for instance, may be the hardest to prove. What one doctor considerers unnecessary another can argue is perfectly legitimate. Unless you have access to the doctor's records and know exactly what his orders were then there may be know way of knowing if fraud was committed.

Health care fraud also occurs through medical identity theft. This occurs when a person uses another persons insurance to receive health care service. This may occur because the person is uninsured or simply doesn't want to use their own insurance. This could even be so the person can receive narcotics without using their own name.

Fraud is a growing problem in our society. It hurts every honest person in one way or another. Because of fraud it is very possible that some of the programs we rely on could be discontinued. If these programs are taken away it could cost innocent lives.

If you know anyone who is guilty of health care fraud then there are places you can report it to. You never even have to give your name. Help stop fraud and you can help make help insure health care is available for all who need it most.

Fraud within the health care system raises insurance prices. For every claim insurance companies pay that are fraudulent we pay higher premiums. It may not be fair but this is exactly what happens. The premiums are raised so that companies can recuperate money that has been paid out to those who shouldn't have received it to begin with.

Health care fraud within the government has an even bigger affect. Not only do your tax dollars pay for this but it means that care may be taken away from those who deserve it and are in desperate need. Imagine children not being able to receive care they need because an adult is getting free care simply because they don't want to work.

This type of fraud also leads to stricter policies and regulations. Medicine that is needed may not be available to some people because a select few abuse it. Pain medicine is the most widely regulated due to people with addictions. This in turn means that some people may suffer in pain due to not being able to get the proper medications.

Of course it isn't just individuals who commit fraud. Doctors and hospitals are involved as well. Some may submit bills for services they didn't provide. Some doctors and hospitals have even gone as far as to create ghost patients. Often times this could be as simple as performing procedures that are not necessary.

Some of these types of fraud are very hard to prove. Unnecessary procedures, for instance, may be the hardest to prove. What one doctor considerers unnecessary another can argue is perfectly legitimate. Unless you have access to the doctor's records and know exactly what his orders were then there may be know way of knowing if fraud was committed.

Health care fraud also occurs through medical identity theft. This occurs when a person uses another persons insurance to receive health care service. This may occur because the person is uninsured or simply doesn't want to use their own insurance. This could even be so the person can receive narcotics without using their own name.

Fraud is a growing problem in our society. It hurts every honest person in one way or another. Because of fraud it is very possible that some of the programs we rely on could be discontinued. If these programs are taken away it could cost innocent lives.

If you know anyone who is guilty of health care fraud then there are places you can report it to. You never even have to give your name. Help stop fraud and you can help make help insure health care is available for all who need it most. - 31381

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