HHS OCR report ยท 2026
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
- Entity type
- Business Associate
- State
- Illinois
- Individuals affected
- 3,831
- Submission date
- Aug 20, 2026
- Type of breach
- Unauthorized Access/Disclosure
- Location of breached information
- Paper/Films
- Business associate present
- Yes
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The business associate (BA), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, reported that an employee mailed the protected health information (PHI) of 3,831 individuals to the wrong recipients. The PHI involved names and medications. The BA notified HHS, the media, and the affected individuals. In its mitigation efforts, the BA retrained its workforce and enhanced its quality control processes to prevent a reoccurrence. OCR provided technical assistance to the BA regarding the HIPAA Rules.
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 3,831 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Aug 20, 2026.
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 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois 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 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.