Washington, DC

The DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking encourages District of Columbia residents to take proactive steps to protect their identities and personal information if they are impacted by the recent data security breach of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Anthem reported that the compromised data, which dates back to 2004, includes information about 102,800 individuals with a last known address in District. Anthem does little direct business in D.C. However, District residents could have received services from an Anthem affiliate or from the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) BlueCard program, which is a national program enabling members of one BCBS plan to obtain healthcare services while traveling or living in another BCBS service area. To see a full list of affected companies, visit www.AnthemFacts.com. In addition, CareFirst, the local Blue Cross Blue Shield company, has provided information at this link on their website about the impact of the breach on its members.   

“Anthem is offering free identity protection services and I strongly encourage DC. residents that may be impacted to contact Anthem right away and do not wait to be contacted,” said Chester A. McPherson, acting commissioner of the DC. Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking.

Anthem is providing two years of identity theft protection services to those impacted by the breach. For more information and to enroll in the services, visit www.AnthemFacts.com or call (877) 263-7995. Anthem will notify people affected by the breach by mail starting this week, but the department recommends affected residents not wait until they receive notification to enroll in the free identify protection services.

If you believe you were impacted by the breach, you should pay close attention to your credit reports for fraudulent activity and be on alert for scammers trying to take advantage of the breach by tricking you into giving out your personal information. Anthem will not call or email DC residents asking for information. DC. residents are advised not to give out their personal or medical information.

Anthem announced Feb. 13 that cyber attackers executed a sophisticated attack to gain unauthorized access to Anthem’s information technology systems exposing the personal information of customers who were or are currently covered by Anthem or other independent Blue Cross Blue Shield companies. The department is monitoring the local impact of the breach and will provide information to residents as it becomes available. More information can also be found on DISB’s website at disb.dc.gov/anthem.