Blue Cross Blue Shield may have sent info about your medical services to someone else

NEWARK — An error by a printing vendor created a possible security breach for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey customers in a recent mailing.

In a statement, Command Marketing Innovations said that in a mailing of Explanation of Benefits and Explanation of Payments statements on Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, some customers received information intended for different customers. After being made aware of the situation, BCBSNJ suspended the mailings.

Command said member names, member ID numbers, claim numbers, dates of service, limited descriptions of services, service codes or providers/facilities were included on the statements. Personal information such as Social Security Numbers were not included.

"We continue to work with CMI to determine exactly how many and which members were impacted, but we do know that approximately 170,000 envelopes were mailed," spokesman Kevin McArdle said. McArdle formerly worked as a news reporter for New Jersey 101.5.

Horizon BCBSNJ members with questions about this matter may call Horizon BCBSNJ at 1-800-455-9864.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.