Chronicling the story of a man who's roommate stole his medical identity, NPR's "Marketplace" explores the rise in medical identity theft and the affect it has on victims. A recent Ponemon Institute study found that victims of medical identity theft spend, on average, $20,000 in lost time, increased insurance premiums and legal fees, and the report points out that "Once another patient masquerades as you, your medical records are inaccurate, and that can jeopardize your future treatment." Electronic medical records should make tracking thieves easier, the report states, but Pam Dixon of the World Privacy Forum says hurdles remain.
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