HHS OCR report ยท 2018
AFLAC data breach
AFLAC, a health plan in Georgia, reported a breach affecting 10,396 individuals to HHS OCR on May 29, 2018.
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- AFLAC
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Georgia
- Individuals affected
- 10,396
- Submission date
- May 29, 2018
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
AFLAC, the covered entity (CE), reported that multiple business associates (BA) were victims of an email phishing scheme that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 4,186 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, addresses, birthdates, Social Security numbers, clinical information, claims data, and health insurance information. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and posted substitute notice on its website. The CE performed a forensic investig...
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 | 930 | May 20, 2016 | Unauthorized Access/Disclosure | 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 10,396 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 29, 2018.
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 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.