The window has been opened for millions of Kaiser Permanente customers to claim a share of a $46 million settlement concerning alleged privacy violations.
The health care company has denied unauthorized sharing of patient information but agreed to a settlement in a class-action lawsuit. Eligible for part of the pool of money are 13 million customers in eight states (including California), plus Washington, D.C., who used certain Kaiser Permanente websites or apps between November 2017 and May 2024.
Here are the details:
How can I claim my share of the settlement?
Check the inbox of the email account Kaiser has on file for you. On Monday, Jan. 12, emails were sent from “Settlement Administrator” with the subject line “Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement – Kaiser Privacy Breach Settlement.”
Copy the Class Member ID Number that’s at the top of the email, then click the link for the settlement website. There you can select the Online Claim Form tab and fill out the required form.
The deadline to submit it is March 12.
What if I didn’t get an email like that?
If you believe you qualify for the payout, choose the tab at the settlement website to request an ID number. Once you have that, you can complete the online claim form.
How much money will I get?
The settlement administrator is estimating each claimant will get $20 to $40. That’s dependent on how many people apply for it.
You can designate an electronic payment method (including Venmo, PayPal or certain retailer credits) or ask that a paper check be mailed to you.
What is Kaiser accused of doing?
The company said in 2024 that it was investigating claims that trackers on its websites and apps may have sent patient data (including search terms) to Google, Microsoft and X.
What if I don’t want to be covered by the settlement?
As is generally the case with class-action suits, if you want to pursue your own claim you’ll need to opt out of the settlement class. The form for that is also on the settlement website, and the deadline is also March 12.
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