Marketplace Online Security Report: December Update

The Affordable Care Act’s state and federal marketplaces are now roughly two months old, and although the launch wasn’t a smooth one, Americans are now beginning to find more success in purchasing health insurance through these websites.

But, buyer beware - these marketplaces have been plagued by glitches and other issues which have prevented nearly 90% of applicants from even receiving a quote for health insurance - something they’ll need to do in order to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate that requires them to have health insurance by January 1, 2014.

Security on the site, or the lack thereof, has been of principal concern for the average American consumer; as in order to receive a quote on the federal exchange healthcare.gov, sensitive data from several government agencies (including the Internal Revenue Service, Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and more), are briefly exposed as they are pulled from these systems.

Recent reports by independent and government security researchers have shown that the website has several issues that make it a hacker’s paradise and the typical user doesn’t know if their identity or sensitive information, has been compromised until after the fact. For example, data sent to 3rd party systems by the government website that track site performance may actually expose your email, username, and passwords to the hackers that know how to exploit the vulnerability - allowing them to access your account and view information like names, dates of birth, and addresses of people in your household.

So, until the government’s website is fully functional and free of issues, here’s how you can make it more difficult for hackers and cybercriminals to use the Healthcare.gov website’s security issues against you:

1. Change your passwords frequently

2. Register with an email you check frequently

3. Use the website on a computer you own