Firm News

Anthem, Inc., one of the nation’s largest health insurers, recently suffered from a hack affecting approximately 80 million individuals.  The hackers stole personal identify information (“PII”) and personal health information (“PHI”) including medical identification numbers social security numbers, addresses and email addresses, which as the New York Times, notes could be used for medical fraud.  In response, Anthem has offered 24 months of identity theft repair and credit monitoring services.  It has not offered any health insurance fraud monitoring.  AS CNBC notes, criminals can use the information stolen at hospitals, emergency rooms and pharmacies to receive care and prescriptions, racking up charges and wrecking victims’ medical records.  The medical fraud risk is particularly insidious “because any medical care a criminal receives while using a victim’s ID number gets added to the victim’s health record—and may go unnoticed for months or even years. The effects ‘can be life-threatening,’ as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services notes on its website.”  The basis for this risk is that the victim’s medical care can cause doctors at emergency rooms, who electronically share data, to provide incorrect medication,  fail to recognize risks of procedures, etc.  Moreover, a person health insurance premium could also rise based on the medical care, surgeries, and hospital visits in a given year–care that they themselves did not receive.

Lawsuits have been filed.  If you have been a victim of the Anthem data breach, contact us to learn more about your legal rights.