Are you concerned that your personal healthcare information may get in the wrong hands or be used without your permission?

If so, you’re not alone. A 2022 survey revealed that 77% of U.S. adults consider the security of their healthcare data to be a top priority. Nevertheless, 71% of respondents are fine with their data being shared to gain insights that may help improve healthcare outcomes – just as long as their data is anonymized. And 2/3 of respondents are unaware of what becomes of their healthcare data after they visit a provider. 

Healthcare recordkeeping has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, so it's understandable that consumers are worried about the privacy and safety of their personal records. 

At Horizon, we have a legal, moral and ethical responsibility to protect our members’ healthcare information. While we follow the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which sets national standards for the security and privacy of protected health information, we have taken extra steps to ensure that member records are not shared for any reason other than treatment, payment or other legally permitted reason.

In fact, Horizon has taken extra steps to ensure members’ security and privacy through our Privacy Center of Excellence and a newly-created Data Ethics Commission. The Commission reviews all data-related issues that could adversely affect our members, such as practices related to collecting, using, holding and deleting data. 

“Our employees are trained to maintain your private Information in the strictest confidence,” says Carrie Parikh, Chief Privacy Officer, Assistant General Counsel at Horizon. “And when we do share information, we take steps to ensure that the recipients take privacy and security as seriously as we do.”

Beyond employee training, Horizon also maintains administrative, technical and physical safeguards to reasonably protect members’ private information. 

Horizon BCBSNJ Privacy Center

There’s a link to the Horizon BCBSNJ Privacy Center at the bottom of each of our website pages. There you’ll find all Horizon’s policies and practices related to privacy. Some examples: 

• A report on how we are meeting the government's health care interoperability mandate for Medicare Advantage and NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid) members.
• Our Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes how medical information about you may be used, and how you can get access to this data.
• Our Online Privacy Statement, which explains how we collect, use and share personal information from members when they interact with us.
• Our complete Terms & Conditions, which outlines the legalities of accessing and using our mobile applications, websites and online services.
• And our SMS/Text Messaging Terms & Conditions, which govern how we send text messages, including automated texts, to you if you have granted us permission to do so.

Questions? Contact the Privacy Center at safeguard@horizonblue.com.

“We're not just saying, what does the law say we can do with your data, but we're asking ourselves, should we?” Parikh explains. “Is this the right thing for our members? It’s a central part of our thought process, ensuring our members are protected with integrity at all times.”

Visit the Privacy Center for detailed information on how we handle member information in a way that is legal and ethical.