A recent breach affected two subcontractors of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, according to The News Journal.
The breached subcontractors were Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Summit Reinsurance Services and Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based BCS Financial.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware Director of Privacy and Information Management Karen Kane said the breach affected 16 current and former Highmark self-insured customers and 19,000 of their members.
"I would like to ensure Delaware consumers that the Department of Insurance takes this matter seriously and is currently investigating how this occurred," Delaware Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro said in a statement. "I have directed my staff to closely monitor the situation as it develops. Many Delawareans have received mailed correspondence from Summit Reinsurance explaining the breach. Unfortunately, we fear that many may have misinterpreted or inadvertently discarded the letter as some form of sales ad."