AMERICANS can get up to $5k from a $2.25 million settlement surrounding Atlantic General Hospital’s data breach

According to The SUN USA, Americans impacted by a data breach at Atlantic General Hospital may be eligible to receive up to $5,000 from a $2.25 million settlement. However, those affected must act quickly, as the deadline to file a claim is just around the corner.

Background of the Data Breach

Atlantic General Hospital, a Maryland healthcare facility, fell victim to a cyberattack in 2023, compromising sensitive patient information, including health data and Social Security numbers. As a result, some of those affected by the breach filed a class action lawsuit against the hospital, alleging that it could have done more to protect their data.

While Atlantic General Hospital denies any wrongdoing, it has agreed to the $2.25 million settlement to avoid the costs of further litigation, as previously reported by The U.S. Sun.

Filing Deadline

The deadline to file a claim is fast approaching. Impacted individuals have until Thursday, August 22, 2024, to submit their claims.

Details of the Settlement

The data breach, which occurred in January 2023, led to the exposure of sensitive consumer information such as Social Security numbers, health insurance details, and financial account numbers. The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit argued that Atlantic General could have prevented the breach with better cybersecurity measures.

As part of the settlement, class members can receive three years of free credit monitoring and insurance services. Additionally, they are eligible for cash payments of up to $5,000.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a payout, individuals must have received a notification from Atlantic General Hospital indicating that their data may have been compromised. Those seeking reimbursement must provide documented losses, such as receipts, account statements, invoices, credit reports, or other evidence of data breach-related losses.

Even if you don’t have documented losses, you may still receive a cash payment, although the amount will depend on how many people file a claim.

Other Ongoing Settlements

In addition to the Atlantic General settlement, there are other ongoing settlements in the U.S. For example, a $3.875 million Costco settlement is available for certain shoppers who purchased specific cans of tuna. The lawsuit alleged that two companies conspired to raise and fix the prices of their “food-service size” packaged tuna products between 2011 and 2016.

Similarly, LensCrafters has agreed to a $39 million settlement to resolve a class action lawsuit related to deceptive advertising.

If you’re eligible for any of these settlements, be sure to submit your claim before the respective deadlines to secure your compensation.