Skip to main content

Identity theft insurance coverage

identity theft insurance coverage

Americans have reported nearly 560,000 cases of identity theft nationwide so far in 2023 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Identity theft victims can be impacted in various ways, including not being able to use their credit cards or obtain a new loan — or, in more severe cases, becoming subject to criminal investigations.

ID theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in America and it can cost a victim a significant amount of time and money to recover their information and repair their credit. As business increasingly moves toward e-commerce and away from face-to-face transactions, the risk of ID theft will only continue to grow.

What is identity theft?

ID theft occurs when personal information such as Social Security numbers, credit card or bank account information are obtained without permission. Once thieves have this information, they can use existing credit cards or open new ones to make purchases in the victim’s name, write bad checks or take out loans. If the theft is not immediately recognized, a victim’s credit could be tarnished for some time before they realize it.

Insurance coverage

ID theft insurance covers the costs victims incur while they are taking back their identity. The coverage may include:

  • phone call and photocopying charges;
  • postage fees for mailing documents;
  • salary loss due to uncompensated time away from work while repairing one’s identity;
  • legal fees;
  • access to a fraud specialist who can assist in restoring good credit and protecting one’s identity again; and
  • help preparing documents, filing police reports and creating a fraud victim affidavit.

Since victims may spend a considerable amount of time recovering from ID theft, these services can make the situation a little less stressful, both on the mind and the wallet.

ID theft insurance plan next steps

Employers sponsoring an ID theft insurance plan can purchase this coverage for their employees or offer it as an employee-funded option on their regular benefits package. If you’re interested in offering this benefit, contact our team of experts today! We’ll walk you through options and discuss ways to tailor them to your needs.

This Benefits Insights is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice. © 2016, 2019, 2023 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

Popular posts from this blog

Innovative employee retention strategies: 9 fresh ideas

Employee engagement and retention are pivotal in every sector, but they carry even more weight in the not-for-profit space, where resources are often limited. High turnover can be both costly and disruptive, impacting productivity and damaging morale. In an era of workforce evolution, to effectively retain their top talent, organizations must explore innovative employee retention strategies that go beyond conventional methods.  Engaged employees are distinguished by their higher productivity, motivation and loyalty, and they are more likely to stay with a company for the long term. Gallup recently updated its research article, The Benefits of Employee Engagement , finding that "low engagement teams typically endure turnover rates that are 18% to 43% higher than highly engaged teams."  In addition to turnover, disengaged employees negatively impact a company's financial health, with turnover costs averaging six to nine months of the departed employee's salary, accordin
Read more

Executive disability income protection program: C-suite FAQ

Implementing a comprehensive risk management strategy is imperative for C-level executives and senior management at HANYS member hospitals. One critical, but often overlooked component, is the executive disability income protection program. But what exactly is this program and why is it vital for high-income earners?   With increasing interest in executive disability income protection programs from C-suite executives, TruePlan Benefit and Retirement Advisors interviewed Bernard A. Gleeson, Director, Employee Benefit Services on Executive disability income protection programs FAQs.  What is an executive disability income protection program?  An executive disability income protection program (EDIPP) is a specialized form of disability insurance designed to supplement existing group disability plans offered by employers. These individual plans provide additional coverage beyond the typical monthly maximum benefit cap found in traditional employer-based offerings. By overlaying on top of g
Read more

Employer Q&A: What is Financial Wellness?

There is a significant gap between employees and employers regarding financial wellness programs, according to the Harvard Business Review . “80% of employees report being financially stressed. Only 28% of employers offer financial wellness programs,” the article states.   Similarly, Forbes highlights a 2023 Transamerican Institute study showing that 77% of workers consider financial wellness programs an important benefit.  With so much research on the need for these programs, what should employers do?  The first way employers can bridge this gap is to learn what financial wellness is and how it can improve an employee’s overall being. In this short Q&A, we introduce the topic and offer some essential tips to get started.  Q1: What is financial wellness?  A: Financial wellness refers to the sense of security a person feels about their financial situation in all aspects of their life. It means having control over day-to-day finances, being prepared for emergencies and having a plan
Read more