New Era Life Insurance Companies Announces Security Incident Affecting Customer Data
In recent weeks, New Era Life Insurance Companies, known for providing insurance and financial solutions, has begun notifying individuals regarding a significant security incident affecting their information. The event was detected on December 18, 2024, when New Era identified unusual activities occurring within its IT infrastructure.
Recognizing the potential threat, New Era sprang into action by implementing their incident response protocols, which included isolating specific systems to prevent further data exposure. They also engaged a third-party cybersecurity firm to aid in investigating the breach. The investigation revealed that an unauthorized person had accessed New Era's network between December 9 and December 18, leading to the unauthorized copying of specific files.
By January 31, 2025, New Era successfully analyzed the data that may have been compromised, discovering files that contained personal information belonging to affected policyholders. The scope of the data involved varied by individual but typically included sensitive details such as names, addresses, birthdates, insurance ID numbers, and medical information related to claims, including diagnoses and procedure types. For some individuals, the exposed information extended to Social Security numbers.
New Era received a portion of this sensitive information through collaboration with its insurance carrier partners while offering third-party administrative services. In response to the findings, New Era informed its partners on February 3, 2025, about the incident and sort of data that may have been compromised.
Following this, the company took proactive steps by mailing out notification letters to individuals whose data was identified in the compromised files, provided they had enough contact information for outreach. To assist those affected by this incident, New Era also established a dedicated toll-free call center to address questions or concerns related to the breach. Individuals can reach out to this helpline at (888) 686-4412 during business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 6 PM Central Time.
Moreover, New Era has announced that it will offer complimentary access to credit monitoring and identity protection support services through Experian for those eligible. In the notification letters, the company also encouraged individuals to diligently review their financial statements and obtain their free credit reports to identify any unauthorized transactions or services.
To ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future, New Era is committed to strengthening its security posture. The organization is actively adopting additional technical safeguards and security measures designed to enhance the protection and monitoring of its IT systems.
The New Era family encompasses several companies, including New Era Life Insurance Company, New Era Life Insurance Company of the Midwest, Philadelphia American Life Insurance Company, and Life of America Insurance Company. This incident acts as a crucial reminder for all companies to prioritize cybersecurity and protect the sensitive data of their clients.
With the increasing frequency of cyber attacks globally, continuous vigilance and proactive security strategies are essential to safeguard not only companies' data but also their customers' trust and peace of mind. New Era's recent efforts outline the importance of swift action, robust investigation, and transparent communication in response to security breaches, setting an example for the industry.