Article Body
South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 5, 2015
Media Contact: Dawn Dovre, 605-773-3094
Anthem Breach May Affect South Dakotans
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Insurance Director Larry Deiter received notice that South Dakotans may be impacted by the recent data security breach of Anthem Inc.
Anthem announced consumer information from policies on record from 2004 to current could be compromised. While Anthem does not currently sell health insurance policies to individuals in South Dakota, residents who receive health insurance through their employer may be impacted if Anthem was acting as the plan administrator.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota’s data systems were not impacted by this incident. The cyberattack and data breach may have impacted Wellmark members who received health care in the states served by Anthem over the last 10 years. The states serviced by Anthem include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.
“Anthem has indicated it will be providing notice via mail to anyone affected,” said Deiter. “The letter will also advise consumers what protections are being offered by the company.”
Personal information obtained may include name, birthdate, address, employer information and identification number or social security number.
Anthem is offering 24 months of free identity theft repair and credit monitoring services to current or former members of the affected plans. Consumers can visit www.anthemfacts.com or call toll free at 877-263-7995 to learn more or enroll in identity theft protection services.
“Any phone call or email requests for additional information, such as credit card information, are most likely a scam,” said Deiter.
If you think you may have been the victim of a scam, please contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Office at 800-300-1986 or by email at consumerhelp@state.sd.us.
The South Dakota Division of Insurance can be contacted at 605-773-3563.
- 30 -