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HHS OCR report ยท 2015

CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield data breach

CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, a health plan in Maryland, reported a breach affecting 1,300,000 individuals to HHS OCR on May 20, 2015.

OCR report facts

Covered entity
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
Entity type
Health Plan
State
Maryland
Individuals affected
1,300,000
Submission date
May 20, 2015
Type of breach
Hacking/IT Incident
Location of breached information
Network Server
Business associate present
No
Status
Archive (closed)

OCR description

The covered entity (CE), CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, reported that it was the victim of a cyberattack that affected the electronic protected health information (ePHI) of approximately 1.3 million individuals. The ePHI involved included names, health insurance information, usernames, email addresses, and dates of birth. The CE notified HHS, affected individuals, the media, and provided substitute notice. In response to the breach, the CE implemented additional administrative, technica...

Text as published on the HHS OCR breach portal.

Other reports by CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield

HIPAA breach reports from the HHS OCR Breach Portal
Covered entityStateEntity typeIndividualsSubmittedType of breachStatus
CareFirst Blue Cross Blue ShieldMDHealth Plan6,200Apr 26, 2018Hacking/IT IncidentArchive (closed)

Frequently asked questions

How many people were affected by the CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield data breach?

The report to HHS OCR lists 1,300,000 individuals affected.

When was it reported to HHS?

It was submitted to HHS OCR on May 20, 2015.

What type of breach was it?

The OCR portal lists the type of breach as Hacking/IT Incident, with the breached information located in: Network Server.

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.