Health Information Management

Insurance company security breach leads to identity theft for students

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, June 16, 2008

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A computer security breach at the Minnesota-based health insurer UnitedHealthcare resulted in identity theft for more than 1,100 graduate students at the University of California at Irvine, The Orange County Register reported June 5.
 
More than 150 students attempting to file their income tax returns discovered that someone else had already used their names to fraudulently file returns and claim refunds. according to the article.
 
The details of the breach and theft remain unknown as federal and local police continue to investigate.
 
"We take our obligation to protect our members' information seriously, and continue to work with law enforcement officials in this ongoing investigation," UnitedHealthcare spokesman Daryl Richard told The Orange County Register.
 
UnitedHealthcare will pay for credit monitoring services and the university has offered to lend money to affected students, the newspaper reported.
 
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