Online Privacy Policy

At the Highmark Caring Place, we take the issue of privacy very seriously. We want to assure Users of our Web site (meaning any individual, including site visitors as well as those individuals who provide personal information via this Web site, herein referred to as "User(s)") that their information is secure and maintained in confidence, consistent with applicable state and federal laws. Please read through the following pages, which describe our online privacy policy.

I. Information Collected Online

A. General
How you use the Highmark Caring Place Web site will determine whether or not we need to collect information from you and how much information we collect. For many features, we do not require any information on who you are or ask questions about you. For some of our features, we need to collect sufficient information from you to provide the service of that feature.

B. E-mail, Product Inquiry
Highmark Caring Place invites Users to send secure messages to Highmark Caring Place regarding Highmark Caring Place's activities or services. Copies of the secure messages are retained for 1,000 days but will not be disclosed to any non-affiliated third parties.

The information provided through the use of these secure messages will be used by Highmark Caring Place representatives and/or other appropriate third parties who need to view this information to respond to the inquiry and/or monitor the effectiveness of the services.

Highmark Caring Place also invites Users to send e-mails and access products and services from non-related service providers through links on the Highmark Caring Place pages. Users should also review the privacy policies contained on these Web sites for information regarding how the service providers use the information. Hyperlinks to other Internet resources are provided for your information only; the views of the linked organizations do not necessarily reflect the views of Highmark Caring Place. The content, accuracy, opinions expressed and other links provided by these resources are not investigated, verified, monitored or endorsed by Highmark Caring Place.

C. Use of Cookies
A cookie is a small piece of information about an internet session that may be created when an individual accesses a Web site.

Cookies can contain a variety of information, including the name of the Web site that issued them, where on the site the User visited, passwords and even User names that have been supplied via forms. Note that most Web browsers can be modified by the User to prevent cookies from being attached to the User.

The Highmark Caring Place Web site uses cookies to facilitate easier navigation within the site and to provide a higher level of convenience for Users. These cookies cannot be used or viewed by any other site.

II. Use of Information Collected Online

Highmark Caring Place does not sell your non-public personal information to anyone.

All information submitted by any individual may be retained to provide a record of such communications and to comply with any applicable legal and/or regulatory requirements and may be verified for accuracy. In addition:

Highmark Caring Place uses any information submitted by you on the Highmark Caring Place site as well as information on sites of related and non-related service providers that are linked to the Highmark Caring Place Web site to provide improved customer service, provide relevant health care related information and monitor the effectiveness of our online services. In some cases, Highmark Caring Place may use such information to provide you with access to information on products, programs and services offered by Highmark Caring Place or our affiliates.

Information may also be "cleansed" by Highmark Caring Place (stripped of any information which could identify you personally such as your name or e-mail address), aggregated with other data and used for general research, classification purposes, marketing or other purposes without permission but only in non-individually identifiable forms.

III. Access to Information Collected Online

A. Employees
Certain Highmark Caring Place employees may be provided with information regarding Users in order to respond to the User's needs and to provide requested information regarding specific programs or services. Certain employees will also be provided with information regarding Users in order to monitor the effectiveness of the online services. Highmark Caring Place employees are required, by written confidentiality statements, corporate policies and state or federal laws or regulations to maintain the confidentiality of personal information and to use strict standards of care in handling the information. Employees who do not conform to these confidentiality requirements are subject to disciplinary sanctions, which may include dismissal.

B. Third Parties
Other than as set forth above, Highmark Caring Place does not transmit any personal information collected through its Web site to any third party.

IV. Compliance Assurance

A. Security
Highmark Caring Place uses commercially reasonable computer security technology selected and implemented to provide adherence to the security and privacy policies described in this online posting. Although we make reasonable efforts to protect your information from unauthorized use or alteration, you should be aware there is always some risk in sending information over the Internet.

B. Internal Compliance Program
Highmark Caring Place maintains an internal privacy compliance program to ensure compliance with this privacy policy. This program includes oversight of the compliance program by a Chief Privacy Officer, whose function is to create, maintain and enforce privacy procedures in accordance with this policy. This program includes oversight by a Chief Information Security Officer, who oversees the information security systems and procedures. Additionally, the compliance program includes on-going employee training, on-going maintenance and updating of security systems and practices, and maintenance of a customer feedback and complaint resolution process. Highmark Caring Place reserves the right to amend this policy at any time.

C. Questions and Concerns
If you have questions about this online privacy policy or concerns regarding your personal information, please send us your question by clicking Contact Us from the top of any of our Web pages.