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Tech smart: Put all your medical records on your phone
It’s official: UnitedHealth Group confirmed over 100 million people had their health care and personal data stolen in a massive ransomware attack on a subsidiary, Change Healthcare. It’s a pretty safe bet your personal info and health data might be at risk.
Hospital systems get hacked and go down. Keeping physical records sounds old-school, but if digital systems are unavailable, this step could save your life. Let’s walk through how to do it.
Start with your meds
Make a detailed list of all your medications, including dosages and names, and keep both digital and physical copies handy. If you’re on an iPhone, the Health app is perfect — first responders can access it in an emergency. You can also try the Notes app and snap photos of your prescription bottles for quick reference.
Android users, Google Keep is a great option for this. If you order prescriptions online, check if there’s a list you can access there.
Bottom line: You should have a complete, accessible record of your meds for yourself and your loved ones. It could make all the difference in an emergency.
Move on to your medical records
These days, most health care records are stored in online patient portals, making them easy to access anytime. You can often request a printed or emailed copy directly from your provider. Just be prepared to wait.
To skip the hassle, try syncing your health records directly to your phone so they’re always at your fingertips. You can even download them as a PDF for quick access whenever — or wherever — you need them.
🍎 Steps for iPhone and iPad
Add your health records
- Open the Health app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Summary tab, then your profile picture in the upper-right corner. Scroll down to Features > Health Records > Get Started.
- Search for your hospital or network, then tap it. FYI: It’ll ask you to add location services to find hospitals and health networks near you, but you don’t have to enable it to search.
- Under Available to Connect, choose Connect Account. Sign in to your health care provider’s website or app.
- Wait for your records to update. It might take a minute for your information to appear.
- Repeat these steps for each supported provider. Start by going to Features, then tap Add Account.
View your health records
- Open the Health app on your iPhone or iPad.
- If you’re on your iPhone, tap Browse. On iPad, open the sidebar.
- Under Health Records, tap a category.
- Tap an item to see more information about it.
I have medical reporting dating back to 2012 in my account, and it’s a 66-page PDF! Yes, you really do want that much detail.
🤖 Team Android
Google doesn’t provide a built-in Health app as part of the phone’s operating system. All hope is not lost to get your medical records on your phone. Try the free CommonHealth app that connects with about 15,000 health care providers.
More health tech smarts
With data breaches on the rise, I’d be remiss not to share a few extra tips to protect your health records:
- Mind your EOBs: Carefully review your Explanations of Benefits (EOBs), which outline every medical service and claim filed with your insurance. Make sure no unauthorized services are billed.
- Set up alerts with your insurance provider: Many insurers let you set up account alerts to inform you of new claims or unusual activity, helping you stay aware of any unauthorized claims.
- On Medicare or Medicaid? Double-check your claims history through MyMedicare.gov or request a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN). Medicaid users can access their claims through their state’s Medicaid website.
If you’re a caregiver or in a position where you have one, here’s a super-helpful resource for accessing medical records and giving access to family.
⭐ Phew, that was a lot to cover. Go forth and share this important intel with those you love.
Tags: Android, Apple, apps, hackers, insurance, ransomware
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