Majority say breach is reason to switch providers

More than two-thirds (65 percent) of patients would avoid healthcare providers that experience a data breach, according to a survey from TransUnion Healthcare.

Older and younger consumer groups responded differently to the issue with 73 percent of recent patients, ages 18-34, saying they were likely to switch providers while 64 percent of patients older than 55 were not likely to consider switching after a data breach. 

“Older consumers may have long-standing loyalties to their current doctors, making them less likely to seek a new healthcare provider following a data breach,” said Gerry McCarthy, president of TransUnion Healthcare in a release. “However, younger patients are far more likely to at least consider moving to a new provider if there is a data breach.”

Fifty-nine percent expect a dedicated phone hotline for questions and 72 percent expect providers to offer at least one year of free credit monitoring after a breach. Forty-six percent of consumers expect a response or notification within one day of the breach while 31 percent expect notification in 1-3 days. More than half (55 percent) expect a dedicated website with additional details.