State comptroller offers credit monitoring to about 1,000 recipients of mailing that may have public

[TexasTowelie]

State comptroller offers credit monitoring to about 1,000 recipients of mailing that may have publicly disclosed Social Security numbers


State Comptroller Kevin Lembo’s office said Thursday it is offering credit monitoring to about 1,000 dependents on state health plans after being notified that Social Security numbers were visible through the window of envelopes sent by the agency.

Letters were sent Dec. 12 to adult dependents on the state health plan notifying them of their rights to continue group health coverage and other options because they are “aging off” group coverage as they turn 26.

“Our office learned this week that, in some cases, Social Security numbers could be visible through the window of the envelope used to send the letter,” said Tara Downes, the spokeswoman for the comptroller’s office.

The comptroller’s office has received no reports of security breaches, she said. But “in the interest of extreme caution,” the agency is offering credit monitoring to those who received the notices, Downes said. The comptroller’s office also is taking steps to ensure that there will be no repeat of the incident, including looking at alternatives to including Social Security numbers in the notices.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-comptroller-information-breach-20191219-zt35zg4aw5an3nv2uaalmvffty-story.html