Americans to get check worth up to $11.5k from $8.8m data breach settlement – just a receipt is enough to get the cash

A HEALTHCARE company is involved in an $8.8 million settlement after personal information of patients was compromised in a data breach.

MCG Health is handing customers up to $11.5k, but class members have just weeks left to file a claim.

The breach allegedly compromised Social Security numbers, medical information, contact data and more.

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Getty

The MCG Health data breach occurred in February 2020.

The settlement provides each claimant with up to $1,500 in ordinary expenses and up to $10,000 for extraordinary loses – such as fraud or identity theft.

Class members without documented losses can claim an alternate cash payment instead.

The sum of these payments will vary depending on the number of claims filed.

MCG Health is a healthcare software solutions company.

The class action lawsuit argues that MCG Health could have prevented the 2020 data breach by implementing cybersecurity measures.

MCG, however, has not admitted any wrongdoing.

Despite this, they agreed to pay $8.8 million to resolve the data breach class action lawsuit.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE

The deadline for class members to file a claim is fast approaching.

For exclusion and objection, the deadline is August 29.

The final approval hearing for the settlement has been scheduled for September 13.

Class members must submit a valid claim form by September 30 to receive settlement benefits from MCG Health.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

There are numerous ways in which class members can prove they were affected by the data breach.

They must show one of these forms of evidence – receipts, invoices, bills , or account statements.

What's a class-action settlement?

Class action lawsuits offer groups of people, or 'classes,' a way to band together in court.

These suits are often brought by one or a few people who allege a company or other entity has wronged a large group of people.

When a suit becomes a class action, it extends to all “class members,” or people who may have similar complaints to those who filed the suit.

Companies often settle class actions – offering payment to class members who typically waive their right to pursue further legal action by accepting money.

These payout agreements frequently include statements by the defendant denying wrongdoing. Companies tend to settle class actions to avoid the costs of further litigation.

Pollution, discrimination, or false advertising are a few examples of what can land a class action on a company’s doorstep.

Credit reports, bank claims, and police reports can also be used as evidence.

MCG Health has said other documentation of data breach-related losses may also be accepted.

Meanwhile, payouts of $400 are available to Americans who have purchased a faulty Bosch home appliance .

Visa and Mastercard customers also have the opportunity to receive a one-time payment from a billion-dollar class action settlement.