Kim Komando, in a special article for USA TODAY, stresses the importance of completing three key tasks annually to safeguard your personal data and safety. These tasks include reviewing your credit report, checking your medical data, and keeping up with car recalls.
1. Pull your credit report: With frequent data breaches and evolving scam tactics, monitoring your credit report is crucial. The three major credit agencies—TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax—are required by law to provide one free annual report. You can request these reports online, by phone, or by mail. Online requests via AnnualCreditReport.com are the fastest.
2. Look at your medical data too: Another important report to check is your health credit report, used by life insurance companies. These reports may contain errors, similar to financial credit reports. There are several sources for these reports:
– Milliman IntelliScript: Provides information if you have authorized your medical records to be released to an insurance company. Call 877-211-4816 to request a copy.
– ExamOne: A Quest Diagnostics subsidiary that assesses health risks based on lab tests. Reach out at 844-225-8047 for your report.
– MIB Group: Tracks underwritten life, health, or disability insurance applications over the past seven years. Call 866-692-6901 for your report. These health reports are free, though they may take some time to arrive.
3. Check into your car: Many vehicles have open recalls, which can range from minor inconveniences to serious safety issues. Locate your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on your vehicle and check for recalls at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) recall lookup page. If your car is recalled, contact the dealership to schedule free repair work, which can include parts and software updates.
The article underscores that attending to these checks can significantly impact one’s financial health, medical data accuracy, and vehicle safety.
Source: Yearly tech checkup: How to review your credit report, medical data and car recalls
