Star Health Insurance, one of the largest health insurance companies in India, has reportedly had a data breach that may have exposed the confidential details of as many as 31 million people.
The story has been reported by Indian news sources such as India Today and Mint, as well as by some international agencies, including Reuters.
India Today reported that Star Health insurance had faced a massive data breach and that the company had acknowledged the hack and said they were investigating the matter.
But attempts to go onto the Star Health Insurance website to access any press release on the situation were unsuccessful.
Instead of opening to the home page, the starhealth.in website address said: “Access Denied.
“You don’t have permission to access “https://www.starhealth.in/” on this server.”
The Indian Express, however, quoted from the Star Health statement.
The Indian Express said: “Stating that its operations remained unaffected, Star Health said, ‘A thorough and rigorous forensic investigation, led by independent cybersecurity experts, is underway, and we are working closely with government and regulatory authorities at every stage of this investigation, including by duly reporting the incident to the insurance and cybersecurity regulatory authorities apart from filing a criminal complaint.’”
The data breach would dwarf a comparable breach in May this year, when Texas-based healthcare provider WebTPA announced that a data security incident has impacted its network and some 2.4 million customers.
Headquartered in Chennai, Star Health Insurance claims to be India’s leading standalone health insurer, operating since 2006.
The company offers health, personal accident and travel insurance, with specialised products for cancer, diabetes, cardiac illnesses, senior citizens, women and children.
Star Health has a distribution network of 887 offices, more than 30,000 healthcare providers and some 718,000 agents.
Health & Protection previously reported on Star Health in July, when it launched its Home Health Care services which aimed to deliver healthcare solutions straight to the customer’s doorstep.
Mind health
Though the Star Health website could not be accessed, the company did make public a press release on the launch of a new mind health programme.
“In response to the rapidly increasing mental health crisis, India’s leading health insurance provider, Star Health Insurance, today announced the launch of its Mind Health Programme,” the release said.
“This initiative aims to empower individuals in managing stress, anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and eating disorders, offering a structured and comprehensive approach to mental well-being.
“Star Health has collaborated with Securra Health for the programme. Star Health is the first insurer to offer the unique support of a dedicated mind health wellness programme for all customers that have policies with wellness benefits.”
The release also quoted Anand Roy, managing director and CEO of Star Health Insurance.
Roy said: “At Star Health, we believe that mental health is not just about managing symptoms — it is about reclaiming control, hope and joy in our lives.
“The challenges of stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues have grown exponentially, affecting people of all ages.
“Through our mind health programme, we aim to provide individuals with not just the tools and knowledge to cope, but the confidence to embrace life fully.
“Star Health Insurance believes that by prioritising mental health, we are investing in the foundation of a stronger, healthier and more resilient society.
“Together, we can change the narrative around mental health — empowering individuals to seek support, reduce the stigma, and ultimately lead more fulfilling lives.”
The release made no mention of the data breach.