[Dataloss] HealthNow data goes missing as laptop vanishes

[security curmudgeon]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: InfoSec News <alerts at infosecnews.org>

http://www.buffalonews.com/145/story/296415.html

By Jonathan Epstein
The Buffalo News
03/11/08

HealthNow New York has alerted 40,000 members in Western and Northeastern 
New York that they may be at risk for identity theft, after a former 
employee’s laptop computer went missing with confidential information 
several months ago.

The Buffalo-based parent of Blue- Cross BlueShield of Western New York 
sent letters late last week to the affected customers, even though 
officials are still not certain what, if anything, was on the computer.

Based on the company’s investigation, the potential information includes 
names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses, employer group 
names, and health insurance identifier numbers. However, there was no 
health or medical claims information involved, spokeswoman Karen 
Merkel-Liberatore said late Monday.

HealthNow has arranged for any affected member to receive a one-year free 
membership in Equifax Credit Watch, to monitor for identity theft. But the 
company has no plans to re-assign new health insurance identification 
numbers en masse, though it will do so at the request of any individual 
members, Merkel-Liberatore said.

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