Kaiser Permanente, California’s largest health-care insurer, has agreed to a $46 million settlement following a class-action lawsuit over unauthorized sharing of patient data with major technology companies. The settlement resolves lawsuits initially filed in April and May 2024, which were consolidated into a class-action suit in December 2024.
Data Breach Details
The Oakland-based insurer is accused of embedding tracking technologies in its websites and mobile apps that transmitted personal information to third parties including Google, Meta, X, and Microsoft without patient consent. According to plaintiffs, the compromised data included names, IP addresses, medical history, search terms, and communications with healthcare providers. The breach is estimated to have affected roughly 13 million current and former Kaiser Permanente members between November 2017 and May 2024. Kaiser has denied any wrongdoing.
How to File a Claim
The class-action suit applies to members in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Eligible members can file claims by March 12, with potential payouts ranging between $20 and $40 per person. The payout amounts will depend on the total number of claimants and administrative costs associated with the settlement.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/california-largest-hospital-group-owes-patients-46-million-78521426