Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont said Tuesday that about 23,000 members in Vermont may have had their personal information exposed in a cyber attack on Anthem Inc.
The affected members most likely received health care in one of the 14 states in which Anthem has reciprocal administration agreements with other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, BCBSVT said in a news release.
The company said the Anthem breach exposed members’ names, addresses and possibly dates of birth. Those exposed include 5,400 members insured through the company’s CBA Blue plan, the release said.
BCBSVT said it will contact 22 members whose Social Security numbers also may have been exposed. Those members may be eligible for free personal identity theft protection and credit monitoring services, the news release said.
BCBSVT, which is completely independent from Anthem, said it worked with Anthem to determine whether Vermonters’ personal information was at risk.
“We take our members’ data very seriously and the disclosure of even one members’ information is extremely regrettable,” president and CEO Don George said. “But we are confident that we are taking every possible step to identify our members who are affected by the breach of Anthem’s data base and to assure that they have access to the support services that are available to them.”
Anthem also said 48,000 Vermonters who work for out-of-state companies are covered by its plans also had their information exposed.
Anthem announced this month that hackers gained access to one if its IT systems between Dec. 10 and Jan. 27. The data base included personal information involving millions of its members, dating back to 2004, the release said. Anthem said no credit card, medical or banking information was compromised.
BCBSVT members with concerns can seek information from Anthem or call BCBSVT for assistance at a special toll-free number BCBSVT has established for concerned members – 855-422-2788. Members who receive their coverage through CBA Blue may call 855-803-2242.