Mercer Times

TRENTON – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today is sharing consumer protection reminders and raising awareness about the availability of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services following Change Healthcare’s February data breach.

The February cyberattack at Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth, resulted in millions of Americans’ sensitive health and personal data being leaked onto the dark web—a hidden portion of the Internet where cyber criminals buy, sell, and track personal information.

Change Healthcare is the nation’s biggest electronic data clearinghouse and is used by tens of thousands of providers, pharmacies, and insurers to verify insurance, confirm pre-authorization of procedures or services, exchange insurance claim data, and perform other administrative tasks. The cyberattack interrupted operations for thousands of doctors’ offices, hospitals, and pharmacies nationwide, impacting the delivery of care to patients.

While the definitive number and identities of affected patients are currently unknown, Change Healthcare has publicly stated that the data breach could impact up to one-third of the American population.

Typically, when there is a data breach impacting New Jersey residents, consumers receive an individualized letter or email if their data may have been leaked. However, Change Healthcare has not yet provided individual notice to consumers.

Given the delay between the data breach and notification to those impacted, Attorney General Platkin wants every New Jersey resident to know about the breach and the credit monitoring resources that Change Healthcare is offering to consumers. All New Jersey residents who think they may have been impacted are eligible for free credit monitoring and identity theft protections for two years.

To enroll in this free credit monitoring and identity restoration service, consumers should visit or call 1-888-846-4705. Other steps consumers can consider taking include:

Placing a free credit freeze on your credit report. Identity thieves will not be able to open a new credit account in your name while the freeze is in place. You can place a credit freeze by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus:

Equifax | https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/+1 (888) 766-0008

Experian | https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html+1 (888) 397-3742

TransUnion | https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze+1 (800) 680-7289

Placing a fraud alert on your credit report. A fraud alert tells lenders and creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before issuing credit. You can place a fraud alert by contacting any one of the three major credit bureaus.

The dedicated website and call center will not be able to provide individuals any specific details about whether their data was compromised, but representatives can guide consumers through getting set up for free credit monitoring and identity theft protections.

Additionally, consumers should be aware of potential signs indicating their information might have been misused:

A bill from their doctor for services they did not receive;

Errors in their Explanation of Benefits insurance statement;

A call from a debt collector about a medical debt they do not owe;

Medical debt collection notices on their credit report that they do not recognize;

A notice from their health insurance company indicating they have reached their benefit limit; or

They are denied insurance coverage because their medical records show a pre-existing condition they do not have.

More information is available through the Office of Consumer Protection in the Division of Consumer Affairs.

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