House Republicans are turning up the heat on California’s state-run health insurance exchange, Covered California, over allegations of a massive data leak that funneled sensitive patient information to tech giants like LinkedIn and Google. In a sharply worded letter, GOP leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee are demanding answers about how and why private health data—think pregnancy status, prescription drug usage, and even Social Security numbers—was shared without patient consent as part of a marketing scheme.

A Breach of Trust
The controversy erupted after investigative reports revealed that Covered California’s website was embedded with over 60 'trackers'—digital tools meant to monitor user behavior for advertising purposes. These trackers allegedly passed highly personal data to third parties, a far cry from the mere three trackers found on average across other government websites. Following public outcry in April, the exchange admitted to the data sharing and removed the trackers, but the damage was already done.

Legal and Ethical Fallout
This isn’t just a tech glitch—it’s a potential violation of federal privacy laws like HIPAA, which sets strict standards for protecting health information. California law also requires explicit consumer consent before such data can be disclosed. Now, with a class-action lawsuit targeting LinkedIn and Google for intercepting this data, and Republican lawmakers pressing for accountability, Covered California finds itself in hot water. The GOP letter seeks detailed responses on the scope of the breach and what steps are being taken to safeguard patient data moving forward.

A Call for Transparency
Chairman Brett Guthrie emphasized the need for Americans to trust that their health data is secure, while California Rep. Jay Obernolte called the unauthorized sharing 'deeply troubling.' Covered California has acknowledged the letter and promised a response by the July 1 deadline, as they continue to review their systems for any lingering vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the tech companies involved have stayed silent on the matter.

This incident raises bigger questions about privacy in the digital age. When even a state-run health program can’t keep your most personal information under wraps, who can you trust? As this investigation unfolds, millions of Californians are left wondering if their data is truly safe—or just another commodity for Big Tech.

Health Privacy News

Republicans Slam Covered California Over Patient Data Leak to Big Tech