Tag: insurance privacy

HIV status of thousands of Aetna insurance customers exposed through mail

Julie Campbell
aetna insurance customers envelope window

The use of clear windows on envelopes allowed private medical information to be revealed. Thousands of Aetna insurance customers suffered an accidental disclosure of their HIV status. What was essentially a stationary error caused the private medical data of 12,000 policyholders to be openly visible in the mail. The insurance company issued letters to certain clients, in envelopes with clear plastic windows. The envelopes with plastic windows are commonly used by many companies to allow the recipient’s name and address to show through. That way, the mailing information printed on…

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Health insurance regulations raise concerns over privacy from gadgets

Julie Campbell
health insurance privacy fitness devices

Connected mobile and wearable fitness devices could soon be sharing medical data. While technology in the fitness category – including tiny computers in everything from wristbands to headbands is becoming the very latest trend, many are starting to wonder about the security and privacy repercussions of allowing these devices to be incorporated into health insurance coverage rules. In the future, the law may make it possible for the fitness and medical wellbeing of employees to be monitored. Although there could be some benefits to using these mobile devices and fitness…

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Usage based insurance is causing a growing privacy concern

H. Cutner
usage based insurance data security

Though consumers are keen to save money on their policies, they wonder if they might be sharing too much. With the increasing popularity of usage based insurance programs, individuals and organizations are starting to look beyond the potential for saving money and are discovering that a large amount of information is being shared with the insurers. This is causing them to question exactly what and how much data is being collected. A vehicle is already naturally collecting a great deal of information about the way that a driver uses it.…

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