• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Contact Us
  • Sponsor An Email
  • Post A Job
  • Merger & Acquisition Services

Agency Checklists

Massachusetts Insurance News & Job Opportunities

You are here: Home / State House News / Harvard Pilgrim: “Copied And Taken” Data May Include Socials, Medical Histories

Harvard Pilgrim: “Copied And Taken” Data May Include Socials, Medical Histories

May 25, 2023 by State House News Service

Massachusetts Was One Of The Top 10 States In 2020 With The Largest Losses Due To Cybercrimes


Cyberattack May Have Compromised Personal Data 

A cyberattack on one of the state’s largest health insurance providers may have compromised personal data including addresses, medical history and Social Security numbers, Point32Health announced Tuesday.

The insurance giant, which is the parent company of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, informed members that an investigation into a ransomware attack it identified last month has now determined that patient information might have been stolen. The insurer first identified the cybersecurity ransomware incident” on April 17.

“Unfortunately, the investigation identified signs that data was copied and taken from our Harvard Pilgrim systems between March 28, 2023, and April 17, 2023,” Harvard Pilgrim Vice President for Privacy and Fraud Prevention and Recovery Christopher Walsh wrote in a message to members on Tuesday.

“We determined that the files at issue may contain personal information and/or protected health information for current and former subscribers and dependents associated with your group health plan,” Walsh wrote. “The investigation revealed that the following information related to your members could potentially be in the files at issue: member names, physical addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, health insurance account information, Social Security numbers, and clinical information (e.g., medical history, diagnoses, treatment, dates of service, and provider names).”

“We are not aware of any misuse of personal information or protected health information as a result of this incident,” Walsh added.

In an online FAQ, the insurer said individuals may have been impacted if they were a member of Harvard Pilgrim any time between March 28, 2012 and today. An estimate of the potential number of people affected was not available.

Harvard Pilgrim offered to provide members with two years of complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services through IDX, though Walsh said the company cannot enroll members itself.

Online capabilities are still limited for Harvard Pilgrim in the wake of the cyberattack, though other systems under the Point32Health umbrella including Tufts Health Plan are accessible.

The News Service asked Point32Health on May 5 if the company considered the incident a data breach and if so, whether state authorities were notified as required. The insurer didn’t say yes or no at the time, and said in a statement that “if during our investigation we determine any individuals’ sensitive information is involved in this incident, we will notify them in accordance with applicable law.” 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed Under: State House News Tagged With: Agency Checklists, insurance news massachusetts, Mass. Insurance News, Massachusetts economic news, massachusetts insurance news, Massachusetts legislative news, New England Insurance News

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored

Sponsored

MA Division of Insurance Announcements

Latest Agency Sales

Kaplansky Insurance Acquires Seekonk’s Crosstown Insurance

Aronson Insurance Acquires LJM Insurance Agency

More Agency Sales

Career News

A Slideshow Of Mr. Bellotti’s 100th Birthday Celebration

Two Vermonters Voted as Top Captive Insurance Professionals in the World

Phil Shepard Hired as Surety Territory Manager of FCCI Insurance

Renaissance Appoints Clyde Ebanks Senior Vice President/Carrier Partnerships

Agency Checklists, MA Insurance News, Mass. Insurance News

ShoreOne strengthens leadership team with experienced Massachusetts Territory Manager

Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency Hires Stephanie McNamara, AAI, AIS

Pauline E. Ashworth Joins Preferred Mutual as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group Adds Two New Board Members

MassDrive’s Jean-Marie Lovett Named One of Travelers’s 2023 Personal Insurance Agents of the Year Award

Concord Group's Chris Hynes To Receive Rise Professional 35 Under 35 Award

Concord Group’s Chris Hynes To Receive Rise Professional 35 Under 35 Award

View More Career News

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Robert J. Dowling – A Lifelong Commitment to Insurance and Community

In Memoriam: Hugh Campbell Findlay, 1928-2023

In Memoriam: John C. Cross, 1954-2023

CAR News

Regional Gaps in Auto Insurance Prices “Not Equitable or Fair,” Lawmaker Says

2nd Look 2023: The MA Commercial Auto Insurance Marketplace

2nd CAR Update 2023: The MA Private Passenger Auto Insurance Marketplace

View More CAR News

Massachusetts Law Updates

The JMA v. Zurich Appeals Court Ruling: A Warning Against Insurers’ Delayed Payment of Insureds’ Legal Fees”

Appeals Case Revisits Underlying Lawsuit Involving Zurich Insurance Duty to Defend Dispute.

Appeals Court Decision Reopens Door To Lawsuit Against New Bedford-Based Insurance Agency

A New Bedford-based agency may end up having to face a lawsuit it thought it might have avoided.

Understanding The Duty to Defend: Partington Builders v. Nautilus Ins.

Understanding The Duty to Defend: Partington Builders v. Nautilus Ins.

Federal Court Reaffirms Massachusetts Rule Regarding an Insurer’s Duty to Defend

Appeals Court Reins in Superior Court’s Expansion of Risk Management

Court Limits Indemnity Agreements Interpretation and Reverses $237K Legal Fee Award

More Mass. Law Updates

DOI News

MA Homeowners’ Insurance Premiums Topped $2.8B in 2021

Massachusetts Remains The 14th Largest Insurance Marketplace As Ranked By Total Premium Volume

Facts & Figures For New England Insurance Departments & Insurance Producers | 2023

Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Honored for Exceptional Leadership

View More DOI News

Insurance Fraud

Staged Accidents Bring 2.5-Year Sentence In $300,000 Luxury Car Insurance Scam

Investment Adviser & Affiliated Insurance Agency Trigger SEC Disgorgement Lawsuit Over Undisclosed Commissions

Temporary Employment Agency Owner Indicted for Tax and Insurance Fraud

Six-Day Jury Trial: Property Owner Not Guilty Of Insurance Arson

More Insurance Fraud News

Footer

Agency Checklists

Contact us

Advertise on Agency Checklists

We offer a variety of ways to get help promote your company or product.

Announcements
Email Sponsorships
Partnerships
Custom Collaborations

*Affiliate Disclosure

Please note that any of Agency Checklists’ articles might contain one or more affiliate links. This means that any subsequent purchase resulting from these links may result in a commission for us, but at no additional cost to you. For example, as an Amazon Associate, Agency Checklists earns a commission from all qualifying purchases. By working with affiliates we can continue to keep Agency Checklists subscription free. Thank you for your support.

SEARCH OUR SITE

Explore Our Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Agency Checklists · All rights reserved.

 

Loading Comments...