HHS OCR report · 2016
Aflac data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Aflac
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Georgia
- Individuals affected
- 930
- Submission date
- May 20, 2016
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
Due to a vendor error, the covered entity (CE), Aflac, erroneously sent correspondence containing protected health information (PHI) to the wrong customers, affecting 930 policyholders. The types of PHI included names, policy numbers, types of coverage, employee numbers, and premium amounts, depending on the type of correspondence mailed. In addition, six policyholders’ social security numbers were potentially comprised. In response to the breach, the CE retrained employees and revised its...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by Aflac
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFLAC | GA | Health Plan | 1,601 | Dec 16, 2019 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
| AFLAC | GA | Health Plan | 10,396 | May 29, 2018 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
| Aflac | GA | Health Plan | 6,166 | May 15, 2015 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Aflac data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 930 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 20, 2016.
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 Aflac 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 Aflac.