Clark Howard talks Quest Diagnostics data breach, suggests credit freeze

Jacksonville, FL — Quest Diagnostics says more than 11 million of its patients’ personal and medical information may have been exposed in a breach of one the billing collection firms.

According to the company, it’s billing collections service provider American Medical Collection Agency has not yet provided Quest Diagnostics or its contractor Optum360 detailed or complete information about the breach including which information of which patients may have been affected.

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Consumer Warrior Clark Howard says this kind of data breach is not unusual.

"Medical breaches account for roughly half of all identity theft problems in the United States."

Clark says this is because medical establishments are not focused on personal data and personal security, explaining they are more about providing medical services. Clark says this is why crooks see places like these as a gold mine.

"Medical providers tend to have payment information, date of birth, addresses, and so much information on us - that it's like handing them full-born identity theft right on a platter."

Clark says he has one rule when it comes to visiting any kind of medical establishment, do not put down your social security number when filling out forms. According to Clark, medical providers want social security numbers because its easier for them to turn people over to a collection agency if they do not pay their bill.

"When these data breaches happen, there's no simple recipe that any of us can start using that will keep us out of harm's way."

Clark says the only thing people can do is to freeze their credit.

"It's so important to freeze your credit files because that's the only effective tool we're offered in the United States to shut down identity thieves, and it's free."

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