<p>Your health information is personal, and it is worth protecting. A few habits keep it yours, and keep scammers out.</p>
<p><strong>Your information is protected by law and by the portal.</strong> Real patient portals are secure, and your provider is required to protect your records. The weak point is almost never the portal itself; it is being tricked into giving information away.</p>
<p><strong>Watch for health and Medicare scams:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Fake “results are ready” or “verify your account” texts and emails</strong> with a link. Do not tap. Open your portal directly instead.</li>
<li><strong>Callers claiming to be from Medicare, your insurer, or the doctor</strong> asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or a payment. A real Medicare will not call out of the blue to ask for your number. Hang up and call the number on your card.</li>
<li><strong>”Free” braces, tests, or equipment</strong> in exchange for your Medicare number. This is a common fraud; guard your Medicare number like a credit card.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Everyday privacy habits:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Use a <strong>unique passphrase</strong> and <strong>two-step verification</strong> on your portal.</li>
<li><strong>Sign out</strong> on shared or public computers.</li>
<li>Never share your <strong>password</strong> or a <strong>one-time code</strong>, even with someone who claims to be from the clinic.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>A quick example.</strong> A caller says, “This is Medicare, we need to confirm your number to send a free knee brace.” You know Medicare does not do this. You hang up, and if you want, report it. You kept your number safe. (The FTC takes reports at reportfraud.ftc.gov.)</p>
<p><strong>What to do:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Guard your Medicare and Social Security numbers; a real agency will not cold-call for them.</li>
<li>Reach your portal only by the app or a typed address; never tap message links.</li>
<li>Use a unique passphrase and two-step verification, and sign out on shared devices. (Our free <em>Spot the Scam</em> course goes deeper.)</li>
</ul>
<p><em>General education, not medical or insurance advice.</em></p>