WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is investigating whether the personal information of Medicare beneficiaries was stolen by hackers who breached health insurer Anthem's computer networks.
The Health and Human Services inspector general's office said Thursday it is assessing whether personal data about Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries has been compromised.
Government programs are a major business for Anthem, the nation's second-largest health insurance company. It offers Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, Medicaid managed care coverage, as well as subsidized insurance under the president's health care law.
The company says hackers broke into a database storing such identifying details as names, addresses and Social Security numbers of about 80 million customers.
The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation.
The HHS inspector general's office often works with the FBI on health fraud cases.
– by AP Reporter Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
