A recent cyberattack compromised personal information from the insurance provider Anthem Inc., affecting more than 2 million Missourians according to the Missouri Department of Insurance.
The insurance company provided the Missouri Department of Insurance with information that showed one in three Missourians are impacted by the information breach, according to a press release.
"This data breach is so far-reaching that it impacts nearly one-third of our state's population," Department of Insurance Director John M. Huff stated in the press release. "Our department is working closely with Anthem to ensure impacted Missourians receive the resources they need to protect their financial identities."
The Associated Press reported that the Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurer said, "hackers evaded several security layers to reach its database sometime after Dec. 10 and before Jan. 27." It was discovered after a computer system administrator noticed "outsiders" used his log-in credentials to access Anthem's system.
The hackers had access to names, birth dates, email addresses, employment details, Social Security numbers, incomes and street addresses, according to the Associated Press. They further reported that investigators have not found evidence that suggests medical or credit card information was involved in the breach.
Anthem is offering credit monitoring to current and former policyholders whose personal information was in the compromised database. Anthem policyholders affected by the data breach can visit AnthemFacts.com to enroll in two years of free credit monitoring.
According to the Missouri Department of Insurance's website, free identity protection services include two years of:
•Identity Repair Assistance: If an Athem member experiences fraud, an investigator will work to "recover financial losses, restore the member's credit,and ensure the member's identity is returned to its proper condition."
•Credit Monitoring: "At no cost, members may also enroll in additional protections, including credit monitoring." With credit monitoring service, consumers will receive alerts when their identity is used to open new credit accounts through banks and creditors.
•Child Identity Protection: "Child-specific identity protection services will also be offered to any members with children insured through their Anthem plan."
Anthem members whose personal information was involved in the cyberattack will automatically be enrolled in these services. Additional credit monitoring services are available and require members to enroll.
The departments of insurance in Missouri, Indiana, California, Maine and New Hampshire are leading a multi-state effort to examine the Anthem companies, according to the press release.
The Missouri Department of Insurance has a webpage dedicated to updated information on the information breach. For further information, visit insurance.mo.gov/consumers/anthem/index.php. Those wanting further information may also contact the Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline at 800-726-7390.