TIPS FOR TOUGH TIMES
Issue #53					Maryland Attorney General's Office
						Consumer Protection Division

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Your Medical Records May Not Be As Private As You Think

* A Maryland man wrote to the Consumer Protection Division after receiving a copy of his Medical Information Bureau report. He had been treated for excess alcohol use years earlier and was surprised to see that MIB had this information in its file. In addition, the report erroneously noted that he had used drugs and had an abnormal EKG reading, all of which could make it difficult or expensive for him to purchase life or health insurance.

You are probably aware that credit reporting agencies keep track of your credit history and report  it to potential creditors who request the information. You may not know, however, that medical information about you may be on file in much the same way.
The Medical Information Bureau in Massachusetts compiles information relating to the medical history and lifestyle of people who have conditions or participate in activities (such as sky diving) that may affect longevity. The non-profit bureau is financed and run by the insurance industry. It's mission is to help life and health insurance companies detect fraudulent applications.

Not everyone is on file at MIB. The company says it keeps reports only if a person has a serious medical condition or other factors that might affect longevity, such as a bad driving record or participation in a hazardous sport. The information is coded and stored by computer. MIB says it purges records that are more than 7 years old.

When you apply for insurance, you most likely will be asked to sign a release form, giving the insurance company permission to access all medical and non-medical information about you. The release also gives permission for the information to be released to MIB.

Before deciding if you are insurable, an insurance company will check with MIB to determine if there is a report about you in MIB's files. If so, they will compare the information in that report to the information in your application.

If the insurance company discovers, either from your application or from your medical files, that you have a condition significant to health or longevity, MIB requires them to report it. The agency can then keep it on file to share with other insurance companies who request information about you.

MIB's rules forbid an insurer from denying insurance based solely on an MIB report. The insurer is supposed to independently verify the information in the MIB report, but there is no means of assuring that this is done.

The Consumer's Rights

Until recently, it was possible for you to be denied insurance, or to be charged higher rates, without ever knowing an MIB report was involved. But last year, MIB agreed it was regulated by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act and required its member insurance companies to abide by that law. That means if an MIB report plays any part in an insurer's decision to deny coverage or to charge a higher rate for insurance, the insurance company must notify you of this fact, and provide MIB's name and address. You can then request a free copy of that MIB report within 30 days of being notified by the insurance company.

If you disagree with the information, you can dispute it. When MIB receives notice of your dispute, Maryland law requires that it reinvestigate the information in question and record the current status within 30 days. However, the re-investigation does not ensure that faulty information will be removed from your file.

If the reinvestigation does not resolve your dispute, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Maryland law permit you to file a brief statement with MIB, which must be included in your report each time it is sent out.

Even if you have not been denied insurance, you can get a copy of information MIB has on file about you by writing MIB at PO Box 105, Essex Station, Boston, MA 02112, or calling 617-426-3660. MIB will send the necessary forms. Under Maryland law, Maryland residents are entitled to one free copy of their MIB report within a 12-month period. Subsequent reports can cost no more than $5.

If you are planning to apply for insurance, you should check first to see if you have an MIB report so you won't receive any surprises later on. If you have any trouble obtaining a free copy of your report, you can contact the Maryland Commissioner of Consumer Credit at (410) 333-6330.

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Keeping Your Cool In Your Car

The refrigerant that makes most automobile air conditioners work is no longer being manufactured. Because the substance _ known as CFC-12 or the brand name Freon _ was contributing to the depletion of the Earth's ozone layer, production was banned at the end of 1995. This is good news for the environment, but it is causing some confusion among car repair facilities and car owners. If your vehicle uses CFC-12, here are some things you should know:

* CFC-12 is still available but supplies are expected to run out in 1998.Unless you need a major air conditioning overhaul, car makers recommend you continue using CFC-12 as long as it is available.

* Federal law does not require that you have CFC-12 leaks repaired, but you might want to _ the price of CFC-12 is skyrocketing.

* If you need major repair work on your air conditioning system, you might want to convert to an alternative refrigerant. R-134a is currently the only alternative that has been fully tested and recommended by vehicle manufacturers.

For more information, you can call the Environmental Protection Agency's ozone hotline at (800) 296-1996, or visit its web site at http://www.epa.gov/docs/ozone/title6/609/609.html
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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June 1996. Tips for Tough Times is produced by the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Attorney General's Office.
J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Attorney General
William Leibovici, Chief, Consumer Protection Division
Lucy Weisz, Deputy Chief, Consumer Protection Division
Jackie Ward, Editor
Andrea Cooper, Graphics

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Volunteers Needed

Help consumers with problems, experience the workings of a law enforcement agency, and develop valuable skills by volunteering at the Consumer Protection Division's downtown Baltimore office as a:

* Consumer Affairs Mediator: Mediates consumer complaints against businesses and responds to consumer inquiries on the telephone hotline.

* Health Advocacy Mediator: Mediates consumer complaints against health care providers and responds to consumer inquiries on the telephone hotline.

* Legislative Aide/Consumer Advocate: Assists in conducting research, preparing reports on consumer issues, and monitoring state and federal legislation affecting consumers.

Our office located in the heart of downtown Baltimore's fincancial district. The Light Rail and Baltimore Metro are close by. You'll find the Inner Harbor, museums, shopping, theaters, restaurants and other attractions within walking distance. Call Ann Brooke at 410-576-6550 to learn more about our opportunities for volunteers.

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HOW YOU CAN REACH US

Consumer Protection Division, Maryland Attorney General's Office
Downtown Baltimore
Consumer Protection Division
200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202-2021

Complaints
* General: (410)528-8662 
	(9 a.m. to 3 p.m., M-F)
* Health Education & Advocacy Unit: (410)528-1840 
	(9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F)
* D.C. Metro Area: (301)470-7534
* TDD for hearing impaired persons: (410)576-6372
Send written complaints to:
Consumer Protection Division
200 Saint Paul Place, 16th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202

Branch Offices
* Cumberland
	(301)722-2000
	(9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 3rd Tues. of each month)
* Frederick
	(301)694-1071
	(9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2nd and 4th Thurs. of each month)
* Hagerstown
	(301)791-4780
	(8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
* Salisbury
	(410)543-6620
	(8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
