Health Insurer Anthem Suffers Severe Data Breach Across Business Servers

The nations second largest health insurer, Anthem Inc., disclosed Wednesday that hackers broke into its servers and stole severe information such as social security numbers and other a swath of personal data from all of this business lines. Due to the company’s size alone, the breach could impact tens of millions of Americans around the nation.

Anthem health insurer did not reveal how many consumers or company records were directly impacted or stolen in the breach, but did note all of the company’s business units have in fact been affected. Anthem’s website alone offers a glimpse at just how large this breach could be, boasting: “With nearly 69 million people served by its affiliated companies including more than 37 million enrolled in its family of health plans, Anthem is one of the nation’s leading health benefits companies.”

The company noted they are conducting an extensive forensic investigation to determine who and what was directly impacted.

“We are working around the clock to determine how many people have been impacted and will notify all Anthem members who are impacted through a written communication,” Anthem wrote on their frequently asked questions press release pertaining to the breach.

Anthem Inc., formally known as WellPoint, Inc., said in a statement the company was the target of a “very sophisticated external cyber attack,” that stole and exposed “names, dates of birth, member ID/ social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and employment information.” The company also noted that no financial information was impacted in the breach, including credit card numbers.

Anthem included that a number of their other brands including Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Amerigroup, Caremore, Unicare, Healthlink, and DeCare were also impacted in the breach.

The company said they are in the process of contacting impacted customers, advising them on how to stay safe with a number of protection products being offered. It can be assumed solutions include identity theft protection and credit monitoring services.

Anthem noted once the company learned of the breach, the company immediately secured the vulnerability, contacted federal authorities and began cooperating with their forensic investigation. Exactly what hundreds of federal officials have urged U.S. businesses to do in the event of a security breach.

Anthem further noted they have contracted out global intelligence firm to accurately investigate and further secure their products and services.

What customer information was stolen in the Anthem Inc. data breach?