The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 28, 2025
Today: March 28, 2025

Hack at UnitedHealth's tech unit impacted 100 million people, US health dept says

The corporate logo of the UnitedHealth Group appears on the side of one of their office buildings in Santa Ana, California
October 24, 2024
Reuters - Reuters

(Reuters) -The February hack at UnitedHealth's tech unit Change affected the personal information of 100 million people, the U.S. health department's website showed, making it the largest healthcare data breach in the country.

UnitedHealth has previously said that hackers potentially stole a third of Americans' data in one of the worst hacks to hit the U.S. healthcare sector. The company began notifying affected patients in June. 

The number of impacted people was posted on a list of data breaches maintained by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' office for civil rights.

A breach at the health insurer Anthem โ€” now known as Elevance Health โ€” in 2015 impacted nearly 79 million people in the U.S.

UnitedHealth said in a statement that the investigation is still in its final stages and it continues to notify potentially impacted individuals as quickly as possible. 

The Change unit was breached by a hacking group called ALPHV, also known as "BlackCat." UnitedHealth first reported the breach on Feb. 21.  

The breach caused widespread disruptions in claims processing, impacting patients and providers across the country.

In June, UnitedHealth issued a public notice about the ransomware hack as part of its requirements to notify the estimated one-third of the country whose private data may have been exposed in the attack.

At the time, the company said that while it cannot confirm the nature of data affected by the breach, it could include health insurance member IDs, patient diagnoses, treatment information and social security numbers, as well as billing codes used by providers. 

Earlier this month, the company forecast a business disruption impact of $705 million this year from the hack that caused massive payment and other disruptions across the U.S. UnitedHealth issued billions of dollars in loans to providers affected by the hack and incurred costs related to notifying customers of the breach.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra, Mariam Sunny, Christy Santhosh and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)

Related Articles

Netherlands passes law targeting digital and diaspora espionage Google parent Alphabet's biggest ever buyouts Largest tech deals of the last decade Google to buy cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion in the biggest deal in company's history
Share This

Popular

Business|Economy|Health|Political|US

RFK Jr. announces the name of a new health org. he created

RFK Jr. announces the name of a new health org. he created
Business|Economy|Political|US

Vanessa Yurkevich explains what Trump's auto tariffs could mean for consumers

Vanessa Yurkevich explains what Trump's auto tariffs could mean for consumers
Asia|Australia|Business|Economy

Indian state firms seek stake in SQM's lithium projects in Australia, sources say

Indian state firms seek stake in SQM's lithium projects in Australia, sources say
Asia|Business|Economy|Political

India offers US tariff cuts on farm imports, eyes trade success, government sources say

India offers US tariff cuts on farm imports, eyes trade success, government sources say

Health

Australia|Economy|Election|Health|Political

Australia PM Albanese calls national election for May 3

Australia PM Albanese calls national election for May 3
Crime|Health|US

Oahu doctorโ€™s wife tells police he tried to inject her with syringes, bashed her head with a rock when she refused selfie

Oahu doctorโ€™s wife tells police he tried to inject her with syringes, bashed her head with a rock when she refused selfie
Celebrity|Europe|Health|World

Buckingham Palace statement on King Charles experiencing side effects after cancer treatment

Buckingham Palace statement on King Charles experiencing side effects after cancer treatment
Celebrity|Europe|Health|World

King Charles taken to hospital after cancer treatment 'bump in the road'

King Charles taken to hospital after cancer treatment 'bump in the road'