HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry informed consumers that free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services are available following a significant data breach at Change Healthcare. This breach, reported in February, involves Change Healthcare, whose parent company is UnitedHealth, the largest health insurer in the U.S.
Major Data Breach Impact
The breach could affect millions of Americans. Change Healthcare has not yet individually notified consumers about the breach nor publicized the free resources and services available. Attorney General Henry emphasized that Pennsylvania residents who think they may be affected can access two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protections.
“This data breach affected an estimated millions of Americans, and for the company to stay silent and minimize the widespread consumer impact is totally unacceptable,” said Henry. She urged consumers to use the free services to protect themselves.
Scope of the Breach
Change Healthcare’s breach could impact up to one-third of all Americans. The cyberattack disrupted operations for thousands of doctors’ offices, hospitals, and pharmacies. Sensitive health and personal data were leaked onto the dark web.
Change Healthcare is a major player in electronic data clearinghouses. Their systems are used by tens of thousands of providers, pharmacies, and insurers to verify insurance, confirm pre-authorization, and exchange insurance claim data.
Calls for Action
In April, Attorney General Henry joined other Attorneys General in urging UnitedHealth Group, Inc., to take more significant steps to protect those affected by the breach. Change Healthcare has set up a dedicated website and call center to guide individuals through setting up free credit monitoring and identity theft protections.
Protecting Your Information
Consumers should be proactive and assume their information has been breached. They can visit the Change Healthcare support website or call 1-888-846-4705 or 1-866-262-5342 to enroll in credit monitoring. Signs someone may be using your medical information include unexpected bills, errors in Explanation of Benefits statements, calls from debt collectors about unknown debts, and notices from insurance companies about benefit limits or pre-existing conditions you don’t have.
If consumers prefer not to use the free resources provided by Change Healthcare, freezing their credit is another option.
Protect Yourself After Change Healthcare Breach
The breach at Change Healthcare highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting personal data. Attorney General Henry’s office urges all potentially affected individuals to take advantage of the offered protections to safeguard their identities and financial well-being.
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