Data Breach at Blue Cross and Blue Shield

A computer error has led to a security breach at Blue Cross and Blue Shield. It exposes personal, confidential information:

“Georgia’s largest health insurer sent an estimated 202,000 benefits letters containing personal and health information to the wrong addresses last week, in a privacy breach that also raised concerns about potential identity theft.”

link: Private medical data exposed

There is also the potential for medical identity theft. There is sufficient data exposed for someone to receive medical treatment under an assumed identity. The seriousness of this cannot be underestimated for the victim of the crime. It means that there are medical data in the victim’s name which are invalid. The consequences are potentially deadly.

It is baffling that social security numbers are used, even when such information is not necessary. This Blue Cross / Blue Shield incident an example of how large quantities of personal information can go astray. However, putting the social security number along with pertinent personal and confidential information is a risk in itself.

Catherine Forsythe