HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) has issued a call to Pennsylvanians to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their personal information from identity theft. This arises in the aftermath of the recent cyber-attack on Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, that occurred in February.
PID has a firm commitment to consumer protection against situations such as a data breach, which are often beyond the control of individuals. As Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys stated, taking steps to safeguard personal and financial information is invariably wise, even more so in light of recent events.
UnitedHealth Group has established a dedicated website for consumers seeking information and resources if they are affected by the data breach. A specially curated call center (1-866-262-5342) is available as well, offering free credit monitoring and identity theft protections for two years to those impacted. While the call center provides extensive support, it does not currently offer individual data impact specifics.
If impacted by a data breach, PID advises Pennsylvanians to undertake several steps to best shield their information and diminish the risk of identity theft. Checking affected accounts for suspicious activity and requesting new cards if compromised, monitoring financial accounts and credit reports, signing up for free credit monitoring, and requesting a fraud alert from a credit bureau are among the recommended actions.
For reassurance, Act 2 of 2023, effective as of December 11, 2023, requires insurance licensees to carry out specific actions to protect consumer information. It establishes criteria for data security and cybersecurity investigations, and also mandates notification to the Commissioner of cybersecurity events.
The PID continues to diligently monitor the fallout of the cyber-attack, engaging with insurers to promote responsiveness and an ongoing dialogue among those affected. The repercussions of this breach could potentially affect millions of Americans, as UnitedHealth Group services over 150 million customers.
The PID is urging Pennsylvanians dealing with healthcare service delays, pharmacy challenges, or eligibility or payment issues to contact the PID’s Bureau of Consumer Services. Filing a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General is also advised.
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