Star Health and Allied Insurance explained

Star Health and Allied Insurance Co Ltd
Type:Public
Traded As:
Industry:Financial services
Products:Health insurance
Travel insurance
Accidental insurance
Revenue: (FY23)
Operating Income: (FY23)
Net Income: (FY23)
Assets: (2022)[1]
Equity: (2022)
Num Employees:14,273 (2021)
Location:Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Num Locations:640+ (2021)
Key People:Mr. Anand Roy

Star Health and Allied Insurance Co Ltd is an Indian multinational health insurance company headquartered in Chennai.[2] The company faced a data leak of over 31 million customers with allegations of its senior official selling the data in September 2024. The company provides services in health, personal accident and overseas travel insurance, directly as well as through various channels like agents, brokers and online. Star Health is also prominently into bancassurance having long standing relationship with various banks.

Data Leak

On 20 September 2024, Reuters published a report[3] about Star Health Insurance data leak of 31 million Star Health customers worth over 7.24 terabytes of data including sensitive personal and health data. The data is leaked by a threat actor named "xenZen" on Telegram through Telegram Bots and on their leak website.[4]

Press Trust of India later published news[5] report on 20 September 2024, stating allegations by xenZen on their leak website of Star Health Insurance an email communication with a company CISO, Amarjeet Khanuja, responsible for handling and managing digital network of the company where he allegedly sold the customers data to threat actor "xenZen".

Operations

As of 2021, Star Health had 17,000+ employees and 640+ branch offices across India.[6]

Initial public offering

Star Health Insurance launchedĀ its initial public offering (IPO) in December 2021.[7] [8] [9] After the issue was undersubscribed, it reduced the IPO size to .[10]

Financials

Star Health has underwritten a gross written premium of Rs.6865 Cr during the FY 2019-20 and has built up a promising path with an appreciable net worth of Rs.1889 Cr, as on 31 March 2020.[11]

As of 2021, it reported a total revenue of Rs.5446.82 with a loss of Rs.825.59 crores.[12]

Controversies

In mid-September 2024, a major hack at Star Health exposed the personal details of over 31 million customers, including sensitive medical records, which were leaked on Telegram chatbots. According to Reuters report, the data is now freely accessible through the platform.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Star Health and Allied Insurance Financial Statements . moneycontrol.com.
  2. Web site: STAR HEALTH AND ALLIED INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED. 2022-04-11. dnb.com. en.
  3. News: Exclusive: Hacker uses Telegram chatbots to leak data of top Indian insurer Star Health .
  4. Web site: Star Health Leak by xenZen .
  5. Web site: PTI . 2024-09-20 . Star Health Insurance Data Breach: Senior Official Allegedly Sold Customer Info . 2024-09-22 . ThePrint . en-US.
  6. Web site: Star Health Insurance Medical Health Insurance Mediclaim Policy. 2021-12-20. Star Health and Allied Insurance. en-IN.
  7. News: Star Health files for IPO, to raise over Rs 2,000 crore . 23 September 2021 . The Financial Express . 23 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Livemint. 2021-11-30. Star Health IPO opens today. Should you bet?. 2021-12-02. mint. en.
  9. Web site: 2021-11-30. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Star Health's IPO opens; should you subscribe?. 2021-12-02. cnbctv18.com. en.
  10. News: Star Health Cuts IPO Size To Rs 6,400 Crore After Tepid Subscription . 9 December 2021 . NDTV.com.
  11. Web site: Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Balance Sheets, Financial Statements. 2021-12-20. The Economic Times.
  12. Web site: Star Health & Allied Insurance Company Quarterly Results, Star Health & Allied Insurance Company Financial Statement & Accounts. 2021-12-20. www.moneycontrol.com. en.
  13. News: Bing . Christopher . Vengattil . Munsif . 20 September 2024 . Exclusive: Hacker uses Telegram chatbots to leak data of top Indian insurer Star Health . 26 September 2024 . Reuters.