When you get junk mail, do you wonder how the sender got your address? And those unwelcome telemarketers – how did they get your phone number?

The data privacy landscape is quickly evolving. Many states in the US have modeled laws after Europe’s General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR). California’s Consumer Privacy Act went into effect Jan. 1, 2020 and 21 other states weighed some kind of personal data amendment in 2019.

Again this year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) is partnering with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) to promote and advocate Data Privacy Day, recognized in the US each Jan. 28. Our goal is to help empower individuals and other businesses to respect privacy, safeguard data and enable trust when it comes to dealing with personal information online.

Here are some things you can do in 2020 to own your digital privacy:

  • Value and protect your personal information. Learn about and understand how your personal information is collected through apps and websites.
  • Update your privacy settings. View or change your privacy and security settings for popular online services and devices using the direct links in this resource from the NCSA.
  • Share with Care. Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it could be perceived now and in the future.

BCBSNE and your healthcare providers are subject to two of the most stringent privacy laws in the country: the Privacy Rule and Security Rule of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Information about health privacy and your rights under HIPAA are available on our website.