As I reported to you right after it happened earlier this month, Anthem, a major care health care company suffered a data breach that could affect as many as 80 million Americans.  The data stolen included birth dates, Social Security numbers and other information putting the affected victims in extreme danger of identity theft.  Anthem is now offering free identity theft repair and credit monitoring services to current or former members of affected Anthem plans going back to 2004.  This includes customers of Anthem, Inc. companies Amerigroup, Anthem and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield companies, Caremore and Unicare.  It also includes customers of affiliated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies who used their Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance in any of the states where Anthem, Inc. does business.  Those state are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin.

TIPS

Anthem has contracted with AllClear ID to provide two years of identity theft repair and credit monitoring services to affected customers.  Identity repair assistance is available without enrollment by merely calling AllClear ID at 877-263-7995.  Additionally, affected customers may enroll at no charge in the AllClear PRO credit monitoring service during this two year period.  You can enroll either by phone at 877-263-7995 or online at https://anthem.allclearid.com/

Additionally although neither Anthem nor AllClear ID provides this service, if you were a victim of this data breach, it would be advisable to put a credit freeze on your credit reports at each of the three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Transunion and Experian.  You can find more information about credit freezes and how to put them on your credit reports at no charge by going to the Scamicide archives.