Obamacare Exchange’s Data Breach Exposed Not Only My Private Info But The Hypocrisy Of D.C. Officials

The presidential campaign is amidst all the activity in Congress. Budget ReleaseCapitol Hill was rocked by the news of something more local in recent days: a data breach that affected D.C. Health Link, the District of Columbia’s Obamacare Exchange.

Members and staff faced the possibility of having personal information revealed, as most congressional employees use the exchange for their health insurance. Reports suggest that the data were also being shared with the media. Already available for purchase On the “dark web.”

I am a D.C. resident, and also an exchange customer. Thursday evening — more than 24 hours after congressional leaders notified their staff, and reports of the breach circulated in Capitol Hill Publications — I finally received a notification.

I received a notice letting me know that my address, phone number, and email were all exposed. It also revealed my birth date and Social Security number. The exchange offered a free way to sign up for credit monitoring.

Mila Kofman (head of D.C. Health Link) will not be affected by this breach. She is the official responsible for the inept security measures that led to the virtual hacking. Like Muriel Bowser, D.C. Mayor, and all other officials in Washington, Mila Kofman would never dream of purchasing health insurance on the exchange for the rest of us hoi polloi.

Officials Want to Maintain Their Expensive Perks

My grandfather was a renowned author of the book “My Father’s Day”. An insurance plan was canceled Bowser tried to impose an independent mandate in the district. I began questioning Kofman and Bowser members of the D.C. Council about whether they had purchased coverage via the exchange. None of them had at the time.

When I Frequently Asked Questions Kofman The issueShe claimed that she wanted to buy a plan through D.C. Health Link, but that she would need to forfeit the district’s health insurance subsidy, which it provides to all employees.

Despite public records proving it, she conveniently didn’t mention her salary at that time. When I asked about her coverage in 2016 she did not mention her salary. salary It was more than $217,000. It was more than $217,000. The end of the last yearShe made almost $240,000.

Given this generous compensation package, could Kofman really not have afforded to pay for coverage — or did she just not want to because she thinks she is entitled to such perks? We all know the answer.

Hypocritical Mayor

Bowser was also interested in the same question I asked him in late 2018. The district had just passed an individual mandate to buy coverage. This was after Congress had reduced the mandate penalty from $0 to $0 in 2018. 2017 tax bill.

The district mandate is more intrusive than the federal one, and gives local officials greater power. Individuals’ property can be seized and sold If they are unable to afford the tax, they can opt out of uninsured.

Bowser was also informed by me during our exchange. Received a $200,000 salary. (She is currently Earns $220,000.) She and the D.C. Council required people making far less than she did to buy health insurance — without any type of subsidy — or face tax penalties and harsh consequences if they cannot pay the tax.

So, she thought it was fair for others to spend their hard earned money on a product, when she would rather not, as a person earning much more.

Although she did give a response, few would consider it an answer.

Bowser and Kofman are both far lower-paid than me, but I still make more than $500 a month. Junk “coverage” It’s been years since I have had to pay a penny for my medical bills. However, I am still shocked when these officials are promoting a product they can’t touch with 10 feet.

While they are promoting the garbage product, D.C. taxpayers handover As high as $100,000 per annum To subsidize the D.C. mayor’s, Council and Health Link director’s health coverage.

That I and many other congressional staffers are now potentially affected by a data breach that will not personally affect them only adds to the chasm between the rulers and the ruled — in this case, Bowser and Kofman sitting in their proverbial ivory tower and telling other people what to do and what they can and cannot buy.

Congress, It’s Time to Act

There is an answer. Congress should consider legislation that would require the mayor, D.C. Council members, and D.C. Health Link direct to have their coverage provided by the Health Link. Kofman could be fired.

This treatment may force Bowser or D.C. officials, to think more carefully about the consequences of their actions in regard to privacy and security.

It is a fact that Numerous congressional Democrats The Council’s rewrites of the D.C. criminal codes were voted down by the voters. This means that lawmakers can no longer hide behind them “home rule” excuse. They don’t have any excuse to not get involved in the health insurance debate because Congress still has sovereignty in D.C.

Perhaps Congress members might be more focused if they think about their personal data being sold to criminal gangs abroad.