Vendor Error Exposed Tufts Health Member ID Numbers

Tufts Health Plan notified 70,320 members that a vendor error exposed their member ID number during a mailing between December 11, 2017 and January 2, 2018. Tufts Health Plan notified members about the error in February 2018.

During a mailing of Medicare Preferred ID cards to Medicare Advantage members, the envelope contained a window used to display the member’s name and address. The address window also displayed the member ID number, which was not supposed to be visible. The error was discovered in January 2018.

Tufts Health Plan has determined that the situation is one of very low risk because there is no indication that anyone other than the postal service could see it in transit. If services for another person are billed to a member, Tufts Health Plan has said that the member will not be responsible for the charges.

Since discovering the error, they worked with the vendor to ensure future mailings to not expose member ID numbers.