Anthem Hacked: 80 million customers

[ERhoosier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheehs1 Wow! I have yet to get a letter from Anthem. Have any others received one?

My letter came over 2 weeks ago.

[mpeirce]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheehs1 Wow! I have yet to get a letter from Anthem. Have any others received one?

Ours arrived a couple of days ago.

[Chuckanut]

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Originally Posted by ERhoosier My letter came over 2 weeks ago.

According to the newspaper, Premera says that all the letters should be receive by April 20.

[Charlotte]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheehs1 Wow! I have yet to get a letter from Anthem. Have any others received one?

Ours arrived today, or at least 2 letters for the 2 adults in the family did. I'm not sure if my 2 children will get their own notices.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[sheehs1]

My daughter's letter arrived in todays mail. She is a "former customer", not a current one. I dropped her back in 2010 after college graduation and after she obtained coverage from her job. I was "the primary" with her being listed as a minor child on my policy at the time.

Mine has not arrived yet. You would think they would do it "by household" but apparently not.

[MissMolly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheehs1 My daughter's letter arrived in todays mail. She is a "former customer", not a current one. I dropped her back in 2010 after college graduation and after she obtained coverage from her job. I was "the primary" with her being listed as a minor child on my policy at the time. Mine has not arrived yet. You would think they would do it "by household" but apparently not.

In our situation, although we are all covered by Anthem, they are all different policies. I am covered under my state retirement system. Prior to 2015 the retirement system had us all covered under Humana, so I suspect that's why I didn't get a notice. My husband is covered under an individual policy. My son used to be on the policy with my husband until he graduated college. Once he got a job he was covered by his new employer but still covered by Anthem. He has since moved to yet a different employer but is still covered by Anthem. So my son has had 3 different Anthem policies in 3 years.

[truenorth418]

I received a letter in the mail from Anthem today. It is a form letter and does not specifically say that my information was included in the attack. I'll assume that it was since I have used Empire BCBS for years, on my own and previously when I was still working.

The letter contains most of the same jargon they posted to their website - made to try to make it look like they are a reputable, trustworthy company: as soon as we discovered the attack we immediately began to close the vulnerability, no health information was taken that we know of, we'll give you 2 years of AllClear ID, and here are the websites for the credit bureaus so you can freeze your credit. Blah blah blah.

The form letter also included some handy Fraud Prevention tips. But I noticed they forgot the most important one: don't buy insurance from Anthem if you don't want your identity stolen.

[meierlde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by truenorth418 The form letter also included some handy Fraud Prevention tips. But I noticed they forgot the most important one: don't buy insurance from Anthem if you don't want your identity stolen.

Since another BCBS company got hacked, it may just be part of a cost of having insurance as I suspect most companies may be open to some sort of hack. If of course you have US credit cards your max loss is $50 per card, and this is often waived.
I had it happen back in the 1990s, and by writing letters sent certified mail, did manage to work it out. I do suggest not using the phone but sending notices certified mail as that gives you proof things are sent. (One can get a return reciept in an online version for 1/2 the price of the green card)

[eytonxav]

Received letter for myself and DS, but nothing for DW and DD. Given the recent Target class action settlement, I suspect a class action suit is coming against Anthem and it could be a lalapalooza.

[explanade]

Then they'll just pass the costs in higher premiums ...

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by explanade Then they'll just pass the costs in higher premiums ...

They can only do that if there is not enough free market competition.

These companies who can't protect out data should send their CEO's to the Tort Lawyers Convention and beg them to be sued. It's what they are doing anyway.

[explanade]

It did cost the Target CEO his job.

So yeah definitely punish the executives here.

[timo2]

Apparently the Anthem hack may be part of specific activity dating back to 2013. Healthcare Breaches Like Premera First Stage Of Bigger Attacks?


"This week brought news of three more healthcare data breaches, one of which left the personal data of 11 million individuals exposed. The incidents raise more questions about why China-based cyberespionage groups have taken a shine to American healthcare data and what plans they have for it. While shining harsh light on the deep cracks in the healthcare industry's security, the recent events also highlight the potential success of information sharing. "

[eytonxav]

It would be interesting to know how many Anthem customers have had their identities and credit affected thus far. They should report some of those statistics.

[Corporate ORphan]

I froze my account at the three major credit reporting agencies. Anyone also do a fraud alert alert (the one that's free but only lasts 90 days)? I am assuming that it's not needed but would it help or hurt anything?

Thanks!

[Katiek]

My mom get a letter last week from Anthem, and she's wary of signing up for the protection because "it's one more organization that would have all my info and could lose it again". She's wary of providing detailed info to a company when it's not mandatory.

Since she's older and not likely to track her own credit info, it seems like signing up would be a good precaution. Does my Mom have a legitimate concern here, or should I encourage her to sign up?

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katiek Since she's older and not likely to track her own credit info, it seems like signing up would be a good precaution. Does my Mom have a legitimate concern here, or should I encourage her to sign up?

IMHO, the 'protection' they offer is not very good. Sort of like somebody telling you that while you were out somebody stole your horse and is gone with it. Good luck. What you need is a way to keep the horse from being stolen. That is what a credit freeze is about.

[Options]

The letters received from Anthem state your information may have been compromised. They do not specifically tell you that it has.

I called this number 1-877-263-7995 (the AllClear vendor) and insisted I be told if my specific information has been exposed. They then connected me to an Anthem representative who, after asking for my name, address, and DOB, did tell me that my personal information has in fact been compromised. I am contemplating joining a class action suit here in California as this will haunt my financial situation for the rest of my life, long after the two year AllClear "protection" has expired.

BTW, anyone victimized, below is a list of information exposed from Anthem's own website https://www.anthemfacts.com/

Quote:

What did the cyberattackers access? Accessed information may have included: Names Dates of birth Social Security numbers Health care ID numbers Home addresses Email addresses Work information like income data

[sheehs1]

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Originally Posted by Options I am contemplating joining a class action suit here in California as this will haunt my financial situation for the rest of my life, long after the two year AllClear "protection" has expired. /[/URL]

I am so mad about this that I would consider joining a class action as well. I have not gotten wind of one in my state yet. You are correct, our data is out there in hackers hands for the rest of our lives.

[Gumby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheehs1 I am so mad about this that I would consider joining a class action as well. I have not gotten wind of one in my state yet. You are correct, our data is out there in hackers hands for the rest of our lives.

Unless you are interested in being one of the named, representative plaintiffs, you probably won't need to do anything. There will likely be a number of class action suits filed. Eventually, they'll get consolidated and tried or settled together. You'll likely be in the designated class and will receive a share of the settlement or judgment unless you opt out.