Final answer:
To prevent medical identity theft, consumers should protect their cards and wallets, use strong passwords, and monitor their credit history for red flags.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent becoming a victim of medical identity theft, consumers can take several precautionary measures. First, it is important to protect credit and debit cards, as well as wallets, to prevent unauthorized access to personal information. Second, using passwords and PINs that cannot be easily guessed adds an extra layer of security.
Additionally, consumers should use anti-virus software on their computers to prevent malware or phishing attempts that could compromise their personal information. It is also crucial to notify banks of any changes in address or phone number, and to regularly monitor credit history for any red flags of identity theft.
Being cautious of sharing personal information and questioning the need for its collection, as well as understanding privacy policies when making purchases online, can also help in preventing medical identity theft.