Post by moderator on Mar 27, 2015 23:47:34 GMT -5
BCBS notifies members of second cyber-security breach
Mar 18, 2015, 12:28pm EDT UPDATED: Mar 18, 2015, 1:40pm EDT
BlueCross BlueShield of WNY is alerting members to another security breach at a second BlueCross BlueShield licensee.
This time it's Premera BlueCross, a major insurer in Washington and Alaska. The company announced Tuesday the breach could affect 11 million customers, employees and affiliates dating as far back as 2002.
HealthNow New York, the parent of BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, is working with Premera to identify potential impacts to local members who may have received services in Premera markets from 2002 through early 2015.
Those who have not received services in Washington or Alaska are not expected to be affected.
According to Premera, the initial attack occurred last May and affects Premera Blue Cross, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and its affiliate brands Vivacity and Connexion Insurance Solutions Inc. Preliminary investigations have determined the attackers may have gained access to such information as members' name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, email address, telephone number, member identification number, bank account information as well as and medical claims information.
Individuals who do business with Premera and provided the company with their email address, personal bank account number or Social Security number are also affected.
The announcement follows last month's cyber-attack on Anthem Inc., the parent of Empire BlueCross BlueShield covering Long Island and New York City. In that attack, 78.8 million individuals were affected, including more than 20,000 individuals from Western New York who received services from an Anthem provider.
All three companies are licensees of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, but the companies are not related corporately. The local affiliate is part of HealthNow New York, which also operates a licensee in the Albany area, BlueShield of Northeastern New York.
Mar 18, 2015, 12:28pm EDT UPDATED: Mar 18, 2015, 1:40pm EDT
BlueCross BlueShield of WNY is alerting members to another security breach at a second BlueCross BlueShield licensee.
This time it's Premera BlueCross, a major insurer in Washington and Alaska. The company announced Tuesday the breach could affect 11 million customers, employees and affiliates dating as far back as 2002.
HealthNow New York, the parent of BlueCross BlueShield of WNY, is working with Premera to identify potential impacts to local members who may have received services in Premera markets from 2002 through early 2015.
Those who have not received services in Washington or Alaska are not expected to be affected.
According to Premera, the initial attack occurred last May and affects Premera Blue Cross, Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska and its affiliate brands Vivacity and Connexion Insurance Solutions Inc. Preliminary investigations have determined the attackers may have gained access to such information as members' name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, email address, telephone number, member identification number, bank account information as well as and medical claims information.
Individuals who do business with Premera and provided the company with their email address, personal bank account number or Social Security number are also affected.
The announcement follows last month's cyber-attack on Anthem Inc., the parent of Empire BlueCross BlueShield covering Long Island and New York City. In that attack, 78.8 million individuals were affected, including more than 20,000 individuals from Western New York who received services from an Anthem provider.
All three companies are licensees of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, but the companies are not related corporately. The local affiliate is part of HealthNow New York, which also operates a licensee in the Albany area, BlueShield of Northeastern New York.