HHS OCR report ยท 2021
Aetna ACE data breach
Aetna ACE, a health plan in Connecticut, reported a breach affecting 8,664 individuals to HHS OCR on Jul 14, 2021.
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Aetna ACE
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Connecticut
- Individuals affected
- 8,664
- Submission date
- Jul 14, 2021
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), Aetna, reported that its business associate (BA) was the victim of an email phishing attack that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of approximately 8,664 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, health insurance information, diagnoses, claims information, medications prescribed, and other treatment information. The BA notified affected individuals; the CE notified HHS and the media.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Aetna ACE
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 1,317 | Dec 20, 2024 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 9,191 | May 3, 2024 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 4,222 | Dec 27, 2022 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 325,278 | Jul 27, 2022 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 893 | Feb 15, 2022 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 1,011 | Sep 22, 2021 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 562 | May 26, 2021 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 484,157 | Dec 22, 2020 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aetna ACE | CT | Health Plan | 1,084 | Jul 29, 2020 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Aetna ACE data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 8,664 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Jul 14, 2021.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Email.
Is the investigation still open?
No. The report is in the OCR portal archive, which holds reports where OCR has closed its review.
Is a breach notice letter from Aetna ACE legitimate?
This site cannot verify letters. Check the sender against the organisation's official website and the HHS OCR breach portal, and avoid calling numbers or clicking links only listed in an unexpected message. See our guide on what to do after a data breach notice.
Source: HHS OCR Breach Portal, OCR export October 2026. Network USA is not affiliated with HHS or Aetna ACE.