DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Medical data released by accident on 3,700 Blue Cross Blue Shield members

Posted on December 4, 2008October 24, 2024 by Dissent

Dan Shortridge reports:

A printing error disclosed the private medical information of about 3,700 Blue Cross Blue Shield members in Delaware to other insurance company subscribers.

People who were affected by the problem should have received letters today notifying them of the accidental disclosure.

[…]

The problem centers around explanation of benefits forms that were sent to subscribers last week. On one side of the form is the member’s correct name; on the other side is the name of another member and information about their medical treatment.

Read more on DelawareOnline

Related posts:

  • Mailing and printing vendor issues breach notice on behalf of more than three dozen health plans
Category: Health Data

Post navigation

← Online Comments Lead To Privacy Complaint
UK: Who is looking at your medical records? →

7 thoughts on “Medical data released by accident on 3,700 Blue Cross Blue Shield members”

  1. Anonymous says:
    December 4, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    What will Blue Cross Blue Shield do after that notification? Will that be all? I just hope that doesn’t happen BCBS members in California.

  2. Anonymous says:
    December 4, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    Good question. If there are no SSN or anything that could be used for financial fraud, then what would you want BCBS to do? Could the data be used for medical ID theft? Possibly, but since the recipients are already insured, I’m not sure why they would misuse the data for that purpose.

    So here we have a real privacy breach…. with some personal info and some medical info disclosed. And it sounds like each person’s data was sent to one other person. I’m sure BCBS will review their security procedures, and maybe implement some more spot checks, but what do you think they should do?

  3. Anonymous says:
    January 9, 2009 at 11:52 am

    Unfortunately, several of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield groups have had breaches in the last few years. They need to create a strong written policy and make sure it is followed nationwide- franchises included!

  4. Anonymous says:
    June 17, 2009 at 4:07 pm

    So here we have a real privacy breach…. with some personal info and some medical info disclosed. And it sounds like each person’s data was sent to one other person. I’m sure BCBS will review their security procedures, and maybe implement some more spot checks, but what do you think they should do?

  5. Anonymous says:
    June 18, 2009 at 9:30 am

    Do proactively for the future or to assist those whose privacy was breached? There’s not too much they can do other than apologize profusely, offer to provide ID theft monitoring (because medical ID theft is a risk, however unlikely), or offer to credit them for two months’ insurance premiums as a way of apologizing. I’ve never seen any insurance company do that (“We’ll waive your premiums”), but it might be a good PR move.

  6. Anonymous says:
    June 23, 2009 at 6:15 am

    The theory behind confidentiality provisions in health privacy laws is, in practical reality, as futile as the provisions in traffic laws which require drivers to obey speed limits. Most drivers either obey the law or aren’t caught speeding; but the damage and consequences of the driver who speeds and kills innocent victims on the roadway is no less significant to those affected than the impact suffered by the victims whose information has been compromised — especially when they become unwitting victims of medical identity theft.

  7. Anonymous says:
    June 23, 2009 at 7:46 am

    Futile or not, I do think it’s important to codify confidentiality and privacy protections. If nothing else, it allows states to strip offenders of licenses to practice or do business. And that might be the biggest “stick” — if they were to ever impose it — to strip businesses of their ability to do business in a state if they have such sloppy security or inadequate protection. Not talking specifically about this case, but in general.

Comments are closed.

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Air Force Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Disclose Unlawfully Classified National Defense Information
  • UK police arrest four in connection with M&S, Co-op and Harrods cyberattacks (1)
  • At U.S. request, France jails Russian basketball player Daniil Kasatkin on suspicion of ransomware conspiracy
  • Avantic Medical Lab hacked; patient data leaked by Everest Group
  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • How to Build on Washington’s “My Health, My Data” Act
  • Department of Justice Subpoenas Doctors and Clinics Involved in Performing Transgender Medical Procedures on Children
  • Google Settles Privacy Class Action Over Period Tracking App
  • ICE Is Searching a Massive Insurance and Medical Bill Database to Find Deportation Targets
  • Franklin, Tennessee Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison on Multiple Cyber Stalking Charges
  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.