I worked for Anthem, Inc. (now Elevance Health) for about 10 years. In 2020 during the pandemic, I accepted another remote job with about a 30% pay increase and put in my two weeks.
While transitioning my work, I attempted to upload some personal files (tax docs and school work) from my company laptop to Dropbox after being told I could remove personal data from the device before leaving. The system flagged it as a potential PHI upload, even though no PHI was transferred.
I met with IT Security, explained everything, and signed a disclosure stating no PHI was uploaded and that it would be treated as a first-offense warning.
The next day I was unexpectedly called into HR and terminated on the spot and told I’d be placed on a “do not rehire” list. It felt like a complete bait-and-switch after being told it would only be a warning.
I started my new job shortly after and have now been there almost 6 years, gaining more experience and completing security and PHI compliance certifications.
Now that I’m applying again (including to companies like Cigna, Optum, and Molina Healthcare), I’m wondering:
• Are “do not rehire” lists internal, or can other companies somehow see them?
• Do background checks reveal that type of HR status?
• After ~7 years, would it be worth contacting Elevance Health to ask if my rehire eligibility could be reconsidered?
Would especially appreciate insight from anyone in HR or healthcare compliance who has seen how this works behind the scenes.