Newkirk Products, a service provider that issues healthcare ID cards for health insurance plans has had a data breach. They also print insurance ID cards for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City and 411,786 Kansas City members have had their member information potentially exposed.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City members’ Social Security numbers, dates of birth, banking or credit card information, medical information or any insurance claims information were not compromised or accessed during the data breach. No health plans’ systems were accessed or affected in any way. Additionally, Newkirk Products, Inc., has no evidence to date that such data has been used inappropriately.
“As Missouri’s insurance regulator, we take every cybersecurity incident very seriously,” said Missouri Department of Insurance Director John M. Huff. “While information like Social Security numbers and dates of birth for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City members was not accessed, I still encourage Missouri customers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City to monitor their banking and other financial accounts for suspicious activity. As we continue to gather more information, we will ensure that impacted Missourians receive the necessary resources to safeguard themselves from any financial hardship as a result of the cybersecurity incident.”
Newkirk Products, Inc., is sending formal notifications to impacted members of the breach. The letters will include an explanation of the incident, an offer of two years of free monitoring and identity restoration.
Newkirk Products, Inc., has established a dedicated assistance line for anyone seeking additional information regarding this incident, as well as steps to better protect against identity theft. This assistance line can be reached at 1-855-303-9773 (TTY/TDD: 711), Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CST. Newkirk has also established a dedicated website where members can access information regarding the incident, including frequently asked questions and answers.
Missourians who have questions about general insurance coverage or how to protect themselves can contact the department by calling 800-726-7390 or by visiting insurance.mo.gov.
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