Thousands of Georgians insured under health provider Blue Cross/Blue Shield may be at identity risk following the mass mailings of claims documents to wrong addresses.
Georgia insurance officials estimate over 200,000 Explanation of Benefits letters sent by Blue Cross went to wrong addresses last week. Letters included information such as a patient’s name, ID number, and amounts charged and owed. And some letters included social security numbers.
State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine says sensitive medical information of patients could be exposed.
"I’d say it’s the most serious violation of any major insurer that we’ve had since I’ve been in office, and I’ve been in office for 14 years".
Blue Cross says an improperly tested computer system change is to blame. A company statement says this is an isolated incident, and that changes have been made to prevent a repeat problem. A spokeswoman says the percentage of social security numbers exposed was small.
Blue Cross has a little over 3-million policyholders in Georgia.
Georgia insurance officials estimate over 200,000 Explanation of Benefits letters sent by Blue Cross went to wrong addresses last week. Letters included information such as a patient’s name, ID number, and amounts charged and owed. And some letters included social security numbers.
State Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine says sensitive medical information of patients could be exposed.
"I’d say it’s the most serious violation of any major insurer that we’ve had since I’ve been in office, and I’ve been in office for 14 years".
Blue Cross says an improperly tested computer system change is to blame. A company statement says this is an isolated incident, and that changes have been made to prevent a repeat problem. A spokeswoman says the percentage of social security numbers exposed was small.
Blue Cross has a little over 3-million policyholders in Georgia.
