Every American who has visited the Obamacare website may have been monitored by numerous companies without their consent or knowledge..."
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Following news
reports last week that
as many as 50 data mining companies were provided direct access to monitor information entered on the HealthCare.gov website
Science Space & Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) today sent
several letters seeking an explanation.
Access to HealthCare.gov was apparently provided with permission and even encouragement from the federal government to companies who profit from gathering and selling personal information.
Every American who has visited the Obamacare website may have been monitored by numerous companies without their consent or knowledge" Smith wrote.
This revelation raises serious questions about both personal privacy and cybersecurity on the HealthCare.gov website."
The
Associated Press reported that when a person applies for coverage through HealthCare.gov approximately 50 data mining companies immediately become aware of the individuals online presence.
Data mining companies can then search for sensitive personal information that applicants are required to enter. This can include a social security number annual salary employment place of residence immigration status military service criminal history financial information age whether one is pregnant whether one smokes and more.
Smith wrote that Once a data mining company seizes this treasure trove of sensitive personal information it is able to combine this data with other information collected by tapping into commercial websites and databases such as phone calls texts social media posts
frequently visited websites and credit card purchases.
These detailed electronic records on millions of Americans could then be sold to other businesses U.S. government agencies foreign governments and even criminal enterprises that are willing to pay large sums of money for the information…"
It is astonishing that the Obama administration has allowed scores of these companies to take up permanent residence on the HealthCare.gov website."
The letters request information about how decisions were made who was aware and how the administration justifies these actions. Separate letters were sent to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy as well as the heads of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
During the 113th Congress the Committee held several hearings on the security of HealthCare.gov including:
a November 2013 hearing Is My Data on HealthCare.gov Secure?; 
