HHS OCR report ยท 2018
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield data breach
OCR report facts
- Covered entity
- CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Entity type
- Health Plan
- State
- Maryland
- Individuals affected
- 6,200
- Submission date
- Apr 26, 2018
- Type of breach
- Hacking/IT Incident
- Location of breached information
- Business associate present
- No
- Status
- Archive (closed)
OCR description
The covered entity (CE), CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, reported that an employee was the victim of an email phishing attack that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of 6,200 individuals. The ePHI involved included names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information. The CE notified HHS and affected individuals. In response to the breach, the CE implemented additional technical safeguards and retrained its staff on recognizing and res...
Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.
Other reports by CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
| Covered entity | State | Entity type | Individuals | Submitted | Type of breach | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield | MD | Health Plan | 1,300,000 | May 20, 2015 | Hacking/IT Incident | Archive (closed) |
Frequently asked questions
How many people were affected by the CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield data breach?
The report to HHS OCR lists 6,200 individuals affected.
When was it reported to HHS?
It was submitted to HHS OCR on Apr 26, 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 CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield 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 CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.