UnitedHealth says Change Healthcare cyberattack cost it $872 million

Key Facts

Edited By Anne Marie Lee Updated on: April 18, 2024 / 10:30 AM EDT / CBS News Massive health care cyberattack hits providers Health care providers struggle as cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group's subsidiary takes toll 02:24 A cyberattack earlier this year against a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary has proved costly for one of the nation's largest employers.
Those unfavorable effects refer to the February 21 cyberattack on Change Healthcare, which shut down operations at hospitals and pharmacies for more than a week.
The $872 million includes "the Change Healthcare business disruption impacts and exclude the cyberattack direct response costs," which likely excludes any amount UnitedHealth may have paid to hackers in ransom.
Doctor describes devastating effects of UnitedHealth cyberattack 02:22 A study published in May 2023 in JAMA Network Open examining the effects of an attack on a health system found that waiting times, median length of stay, and incidents of patients leaving against medical advice all increased.