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Cybersecurity Tips | Walgreens

Sponsored by Cigna(R)

Cybersecurity Tips

Cybersecurity is always a hot topic, and it's important to be vigilant in protecting our personal information online. While the emphasis in identity theft is often thought of in terms of financial information, health information is also valuable to cyber thieves.

For Medicare beneficiaries, the Office of the Inspector General cautions that personal health information like name, social security number or Medicare number can be stolen. If this happens, Medicare enrollees might experience interruptions in their care.

Cigna's Deputy Chief Information Officer, Bob Davis, gives us these guidelines when it comes to keeping our personal information safe:

Never open email or attachments from unknown senders

Hackers can also gain access to their desired information when the recipient clicks on fake links or opens attachments in emails. Cyber thieves are also really crafty when making their links and email addresses appear reputable. Note the details before clicking through emails, even if you think you know the sender. Does it look like other messages you’ve received from the company? Hover over any links to see exactly where it will send you. Hackers may code the message to appear it’s sending you to a valid website but instead is sending to a spoofed site.

Guard personal information

It is very rare that a reputable company will request password, payment info or sensitive information via email. Secure portals that encrypt information are the better option. If you receive a message requesting private information to be sent via email, report it to the company immediately.

Never give personal information to someone who calls you on the phone, especially if they "need" it immediately

Certainly, there's a chance that a health insurer or company you do business with will need to call you to verify information. It’s easy to know if it's on the up-and-up. Simply ask if you can call back to verify. And don't use a number the caller gives you. Use a telephone number that is published publicly, like on your membership card.

Consider texts and social media

Consider the rules of email the same for texts and social media messages. Avoid giving information via text and ignore links sent from unknown numbers.

If an enrollee thinks they may have been a victim of a scam or to report a potential scam, call 1-800-MEDICARE.