HHS OCR report · 2018
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Florida
- Individuals affected
- 26,942
- Submission date
- Sep 14, 2018
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
On July 25, 2018, the covered entity (CE), WellCare Health Plans, began receiving phone calls from members complaining that they had received a letter containing another member’s protected health information (PHI). The CE investigated and determined that between January 20, 2018, and June 20, 2018, appointment reminder letters for 26,942 members were mistakenly sent to the wrong members. The letters contained name, age, Medicaid number, healthcare providers, and a general reason for the appoi...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WellCare Health Plans, Inc. | FL | Health Plan | 2,794 | Jun 30, 2020 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| WellCare Health Plans, Inc. | FL | Health Plan | 1,101 | Jun 13, 2018 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| WellCare Health Plans, Inc. | FL | Health Plan | 1,214 | Aug 11, 2017 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| WellCare Health Plans, Inc. | FL | Health Plan | 24,809 | Jan 27, 2017 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the WellCare Health Plans, Inc. data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 26,942 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Sep 14, 2018.
What type of breach was it?
The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Unauthorized Access/Disclosure, with the breached information located in: Paper/Films.
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 WellCare Health Plans, Inc. 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 WellCare Health Plans, Inc..