Healthcare Data Breaches
Your medical records contain vast amounts of sensitive data. From insurance plan information to treatment history, it’s all available in the digital files you trust healthcare providers to secure. However, cybercriminals are increasingly targeting this information, and when healthcare systems are compromised, the results can be devastating.
Healthcare data breaches yield access to information that criminals use for extortion, fraud, and other nefarious acts. If you’ve received notice that your information was exposed, Class Action U is here to help you understand your legal rights and connect you with experienced legal partners.
What Are Healthcare Data Breaches?
A data breach occurs when an unauthorized third party gains access to sensitive and confidential data. Any person or entity may be a victim. If the target is an organization in the medical sector, it’s referred to as a healthcare data breach.
Cybercriminals who attack healthcare entities may obtain a combination of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)—such as your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth—and Protected Health Information (PHI), like treatment records, diagnoses, or insurance details.
The primary cause of healthcare data breaches is hacking. Bad actors can use multiple techniques to breach an organization’s cybersecurity and steal valuable information.
Criminals may hack their way into unsecured systems, install ransomware on an unsuspecting employee’s computer, or leverage a third-party vendor’s weak security protocols. Sometimes, workers may unknowingly expose data through poor security practices or improper disposal.
Whatever the cause, a healthcare data breach is bad news for organizations and individual victims. Entities face high legal costs and reputational damage. Individuals risk the potential of identity theft and financial losses.
Why Is Healthcare Data So Valuable to Hackers?
Healthcare data is highly lucrative to cybercriminals, much more than an email address or credit card details. According to the Center for Internet Security, PHI can command up to $363 on the black market. That may be why healthcare ranks as one of the industries most frequently targeted by hackers.
Criminals use healthcare records for a broad range of purposes. They can target victims using elaborate scams relevant to their actual medical conditions. Other ways bad actors may use data include creating bogus medical claims or accessing prescriptions to resell. Some hold the data hostage and demand huge ransoms from a provider in exchange for its release.
The value of the data likely drives the uptick in recent healthcare breaches. In 2024, over 250 million individuals were impacted by medical breaches, a five-fold increase since 2022. These attacks are not new, but their scale and frequency are growing.
Your Rights After a Healthcare Data Breach
If a healthcare provider or insurance company suffers a breach, federal and state laws are in place to protect you. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, covered entities must notify you within 60 days of a data breach. The notification can come through first-class mail or email if you’ve opted to receive electronic notices from the organization.
Notices must include general details about the breach, including the types of information exposed. They also list steps that affected victims can take to protect themselves and what the organization is doing to prevent future breaches.
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH Act, expanded HIPAA notification requirements to include a report to the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS. The federal agency maintains a list of healthcare breaches affecting more than 500 people on its website.
State laws differ in their approach to healthcare data breaches, but most require organizations to notify you within a specific timeframe. Some states require organizations to provide victims with access to free credit monitoring for a specific period, such as six months or a year.
You may take legal action against an entity if the breach causes you harm. A lawsuit may allow you to recover compensation for financial losses you’ve incurred.
Can You Sue for a Healthcare Data Breach?
Losing your most sensitive information through a healthcare data breach can be highly stressful. There is no telling how a cybercriminal will use the information or where it will end up. In the meantime, you may worry about identity theft and scams that could hurt your credit or reputation.
You may have the right to sue an organization if either of the following is true:
- An entity’s information technology team failed to take appropriate actions to safeguard your data under federal or state laws.
- The data exposed in the breach causes you significant financial losses or psychological stress.
It’s critical to seek an attorney’s guidance in a data breach lawsuit. Our legal partners have extensive experience navigating data breach lawsuits and can help you determine whether you have an individual case. In some instances, other parties may have already initiated legal action against a negligent healthcare company, and it may be possible for you to join their lawsuit as part of a class action lawsuit.
Major Healthcare Data Breaches by Year
Some of the most significant healthcare data breaches over the past five years include:
2025 Healthcare Breaches
- Charleston Area Medical Center
- LifeBridge Health Inc
- Heritage Health Care
2024 Healthcare Breaches
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- OnePoint Patient Care
- ALN Medical Management LLC
- Risas Dental & Braces
- Emergency Medical Services Authority
- Eastern Radiologists Inc
2023 Healthcare Breaches
- HealthEC LLC
- East River Medical Imaging PC
- McLaren Health Care
- Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
- PharMerica Corporation
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
2022 Healthcare Breaches
- Community Health Network Inc
- Advocate Aurora Health
- Aetna ACE
- Baptist Medical Center
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- Adaptive Health Integrations
2021 Healthcare Breaches
- North Broward Hospital District
- Oregon Anesthesiology Group PC
- Luminus Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
- Lincare Holdings Inc.
- JDC Healthcare Management LLC
- Scripps Health
What To Do if Your Medical Data Was Leaked
If you are an unfortunate victim of a healthcare data breach, there are steps you can take to protect against further losses.
1. Monitor Your Credit
Sign up for free credit monitoring services offered to you by the healthcare organization. If the entity does not provide a monitoring service, you can enroll in a paid plan through one of the big three: Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. Set up automatic alerts so you’ll receive a notification anytime there’s activity in your accounts.
2. Request Breach Notices
Federal laws require healthcare organizations to notify affected victims of a data breach without delay. If you do not receive a letter, reach out to the company immediately. Ask for a copy of the breach notice and whether it involved your PII or PHI.
3. Report HIPAA Violations
Failing to report a data breach to an affected individual within the 60-day timeline is a HIPAA violation. Companies that break the rules may face regulatory penalties and fines. Do your part by reporting notification violations directly to HHS. Your report may dissuade other organizations from trying to sweep breaches under the rug.
4. Ask for Legal Guidance
If you have any questions or concerns, seeking an attorney’s guidance after a data breach can be extremely helpful. A qualified attorney can explain your legal options so you can make a fully informed decision about your next steps.
Join a Healthcare Data Breach Lawsuit
If you were affected by a healthcare data breach, you may be entitled to compensation, and we can help.
Class Action U is dedicated to helping consumers fight back and hold healthcare companies accountable for insecure data protection. At Class Action U, we connect you with experienced legal professionals who are ready to fight for your rights. There’s no cost to reach out and no obligation to proceed after a consultation.
Contact us for a free case review.
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