So What About the Anthem Security Breach?

Mr. Kaplan and I have continued our tour of studios this week. A question keeps coming up: "What about Anthem?! What about the security breach? Are my bank accounts in jeopardy?

Here's what the Motion Picture Industry Health Plan says:

... Anthem states it will be sending letters via US Mail to impacted participants by the end of February. The letters will contain additional information regarding Credit Monitoring services that Anthem will pay for and make available for one (1) year to those who were impacted. Please note, you will NOT be automatically enrolled in these services. Impacted participants MUST enroll for the services upon receipt of the letter.

There have been reports of fraudulent email activity offering credit monitoring services that appear to be from Anthem. Anthem will NOT use e-mail for this correspondence. Notification from Anthem will be via US Mail. ...

We've been telling members that if they're uncomfortable with waiting, if they want to be proactive with credit cards and bank accounts, then they should do that. No reason to wait if it causes you sleepless nights. In the meantime, here's what Anthem says it's doing now ...

From the Anthem website:

Anthem is working with AllClear ID, a leading and trusted identity protection provider, to offer 24 months of identity theft repair and credit monitoring services to current or former members of an affected Anthem plan dating back to 2004.

This includes customers of Anthem, Inc. companies Amerigroup, Anthem and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield companies, Caremore, and Unicare. Additionally customers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies who used their Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance in one of fourteen states where Anthem, Inc. operates may be impacted and are also eligible: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

AllClear ID is ready and standing by to assist you if you need identity repair assistance. This service is automatically available to you with no enrollment required. If a problem arises, simply call 877-263-7995 and a dedicated investigator will do the work to recover financial losses, restore your credit, and make sure your identity is returned to its proper condition. ...

A crappy situation all around, but it can be dealt with. Just take a few minutes and read the Anthem site.