On August 23, 2023, IEC Group, which does business under the name AmeriBen, filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of Texas after discovering that confidential consumer information that had been entrusted to the company was subject to unauthorized access. In this notice, AmeriBen explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, health insurance information and medical information. Upon completing its investigation, AmeriBen began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification from AmeriBen, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, businesses of all sizes and across all industries have a legal obligation to keep the confidential information in their possession safe. And, when a data breach is caused at least in part by the business’s own negligence, victims of the breach may be able to bring a data breach class action lawsuit against the business. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the AmeriBen data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the AmeriBen Breach?
The AmeriBen data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. Unfortunately, at this early point, AmeriBen’s filing with the Attorney General of Texas provides limited information on what led up to the breach. According to this source, AmeriBen recently learned of a potential data security incident. In response, AmeriBen launched an investigation, confirming that an unauthorized actor was able to access confidential information belonging to certain patients. However, based on a review of the available information, it is unclear whether the incident involved AmeriBen’s IT network or that of one of AmeriBen’s third-party vendors.
Regardless, after learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, AmeriBen reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, health insurance information and medical information.
On August 23, 2023, AmeriBen sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of which information of theirs was compromised.
More Information About AmeriBen
Founded in 1958, AmeriBen is a third-party insurance administrator based out of Meridian, Idaho, with a satellite office in Salt Lake City, Utah. AmeriBen oversees the administration of complex benefit plans for over 160 self-funded employer groups and fully insured university plans totaling over one million members. AmeriBen employs more than 1,500 people and generates approximately $295 million in annual revenue.
