UnitedHealth Group revealed that last year’s cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary affected approximately 190 million patients—nearly doubling previous estimates of around 100 million people. This latest figure brings the total number of individuals impacted to about half of the U.S. population, given the country’s approximate 341 million residents.
The incident, which exposed sensitive data including health conditions and Social Security numbers, has already reached 79 million people through the Change Healthcare network. UnitedHealth Group stated that most affected individuals have received individual or substitute notice, but no misuse of personal information has been reported during the analysis.
Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group owns UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, and acquired health services division Optum for $13 billion in 2022. Change Healthcare, now part of the UnitedHealthGroup portfolio, processed a significant portion of healthcare transactions annually before the breach.
To address the threat, UnitedHealth Group shut down its processing systems for medical claims at Change Healthcare, causing disruptions to hospitals and clinics. The incident also caused delays at pharmacy counters, with some patients struggling to fill prescriptions.
The U.S. government is investigating whether a breach of protected health information occurred and if UnitedHealth Group and Change Healthcare are in compliance with federal privacy, security, and breach notification rules. Earlier this year, the company began sending letters to affected patients, informing them that their sensitive information may have been accessed.
UnitedHealth Group has since repaired the systems at Change Healthcare, ensuring smoother operations. Those affected can now access complimentary credit monitoring and identity protection services through IDX or by calling toll-free 888-846-4705. For additional support from Change Healthcare, consumers can contact toll-free 866-262-5342.
Christopher Snowbeck
ReporterChristopher Snowbeck covers health insurers, including UnitedHealth Group, and the business of running hospitals and clinics.
Source: https://www.startribune.com/1-in-2-americans-affected-by-unitedhealth-cyberattack-new-disclosure-shows/601210911