UnitedHealth Notifies Victims of Massive Data Breach
The United States Department of Health and Human Services has directed UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurers, to notify more than 1.9 million victims of a serious data breach. The breach, which occurred between May and August 2021, exposed sensitive health information of current and former members, including: * Names * Addresses * Social Security numbers * Birthdates * Medical information (e.g., diagnoses, treatments, prescriptions) According to the report, the breach was caused by a third-party vendor that UnitedHealth used to process claims. The vendor was hacked, allowing unauthorized individuals to access UnitedHealth’s systems. UnitedHealth has stated that it has taken immediate steps to secure its systems and notify victims. The company is offering free identity theft protection and credit monitoring services to those affected. The Department of Health is investigating the breach and has imposed a fine of $6.85 million on UnitedHealth for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA is a federal law that protects the privacy and security of health information. This breach is one of the largest in recent history and highlights the importance of protecting sensitive data from cyberattacks. UnitedHealth is urging victims to be vigilant for any suspicious activity related to their personal information. If you are a UnitedHealth member or former member and receive a notification about the breach, it is crucial to take the following steps: * Contact UnitedHealth to confirm the breach and enroll in identity theft protection services. * Monitor your credit reports regularly. * Contact financial institutions to notify them of the breach and consider freezing your credit. * Be cautious of any unsolicited emails or phone calls asking for personal information.
The Queen was touring a new exhibition on the gardens associated with women from the famous Bloomsbury artist group.
The Queen jokes that she wants to “push” the King from his position as patron of a museum she can’t resist visiting.
Camilla described London’s Garden Museum as “such a special place” as she made her third visit in just over twelve months to see a new exhibition about the gardens associated with women from the famous Bloomsbury artist group.
Royal florist Shane Connolly, who created the floral displays for the King’s coronation and Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005, was also at the event along with the museum’s president, TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh.
Camilla speaks to Romilly Bannerman, two, and her mother Violet Bannerman during a visit to the Gardening Bohemia exhibition at the Garden Museum in Lambeth, south London (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)
In an impromptu speech, the Queen told the guests: “I don’t know how many visits I have made here – quite a lot. I know my husband’s patron, but maybe I should give him a push, I’d like to take that away from him. “It is such a special place that I love to return every time I am asked and I think this beautiful exhibition celebrating women in the garden(s) is so important.”
She added: “I’m so happy that you’re celebrating all the women who are these amazing gardeners because we love gardening. It’s often the men who are celebrated and not the women, so I think you’re doing a fantastic job. here.
The exhibition, titled Gardening Bohemia: Bloomsbury Women Outdoors, uses paintings, photographs and other objects to explore the gardens associated with writer Virginia Woolf, her sister, the painter Vanessa Bell, garden designer and poet Vita Sackville-West and photographer Lady Ottoline Morrell.
Camilla visiting the Gardening Bohemia exhibition at the Garden Museum in South London (Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA)
The four women depicted used their gardens as a refuge where they could express their creativity and redefine ideas about domesticity and relationships.
Mr Connolly, who picked flowers from his garden for a bouquet presented to the Queen, said of Charles and Camilla: “It’s wonderful because they are both gardeners so we have had the most wonderful support – a patron who is a gardener and his wife coming to see us, so it’s absolutely fantastic. “They understand what this is about, and gardening is for everyone, it’s not just for people with large estates, they realize that and this is an opportunity for people to come and see the therapy that a garden provides.”
Data Breach Affects UnitedHealth Customers
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has ordered UnitedHealth Group to notify individuals whose protected health information (PHI) was compromised in a data breach. The breach was discovered in October 2022 and affected approximately 500,000 individuals. The compromised data included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and health insurance information. UnitedHealth has stated that there is no evidence that the data has been misused. HHS has conducted an investigation into the breach and has determined that UnitedHealth failed to implement reasonable security measures to protect PHI. As a result, HHS has ordered the company to take corrective action and to provide breach notification to affected individuals. UnitedHealth has begun notifying affected individuals by mail and is offering free credit monitoring services. The company has also established a dedicated website where individuals can obtain more information about the breach and request credit monitoring. Individuals who believe their PHI may have been compromised should contact UnitedHealth at 1-800-299-2737 or visit the company’s dedicated website at www.unitedhealthgroup.com/databreach.
