Act Now: Final Opportunity to Claim $7,500 from Data Breach Settlement

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Patients impacted by a Florida-based hospital’s data breach have just 24 hours left to submit claims for compensation, potentially worth up to $7,500. The deadline for submissions is January 12, 2025.

The settlement comes after Tampa General Hospital faced a class-action lawsuit stemming from a 2023 data breach that compromised the personal information of approximately 2.1 million individuals. Although the hospital agreed to a $6.8 million settlement, it has not admitted to any wrongdoing.

Details of the Data Breach

The breach, discovered on or around May 31, 2023, exposed sensitive patient information, including:

  • Health insurance details
  • Social Security numbers
  • Medical record numbers
  • Treatment information

Who is Eligible for Compensation?

Patients eligible for the settlement would have received a notice from the Florida Health Science Center indicating that their information was potentially leaked. Compensation categories depend on the personal impact experienced:

  1. Flat Rate Payment
    • Class members who received a notice but did not experience losses can claim $125.
  2. Documented Losses
    • Those who experienced specific losses such as travel expenses, credit-related costs, bank fees, and communication charges can claim up to $1,500. Evidence such as receipts, credit reports, or bank statements is required.
  3. Extraordinary Losses
    • Claimants who experienced significant impacts like identity theft or fraudulent charges can receive up to $7,500 with proper documentation.
  4. Lost Time Compensation
    • Up to four hours of lost time can be claimed at $25 per hour, for a maximum payout of $100.
  5. Credit Monitoring
    • All affected individuals can claim one year of free three-bureau credit monitoring services.

How to Submit a Claim

To be included in the settlement, claims must be submitted by January 12, 2025. Eligible individuals can file their claims online here.

Legal Implications for Non-Claimants

Class members who did not exclude themselves from the settlement by the December 28, 2024, deadline will no longer be able to bring legal action against Tampa General Hospital related to this data breach. Failing to submit a claim by the January deadline means forfeiting any compensation from the settlement.

Final Approval Hearing

A final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for February 3, 2025.

Act Now

Time is running out for those impacted by the Tampa General Hospital data breach to claim their share of the settlement. Ensure your claim is submitted by January 12 to secure potential compensation.

Ritu Sharma

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