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Horizon Data Breach Settlement: Here’s What Actually Happened
Nearly 200,000 people had their personal info stolen from Horizon Actuarial in 2021. Now there's an $8.73 million class action settlement on the table. If your data was involved, you could be owed cash—up to $5,000.
What Exactly Happened?
In November 2021, Horizon Actuarial Services—an actuarial consulting firm that works with retirement and health plans—was breached. A hacker group emailed them saying, “Hey, we stole your clients’ data.” Classic ransomware move.
The stolen data wasn’t minor stuff. We're talking full names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and health plan information. Basically, everything you’d need to steal someone’s identity.
Think about that for a second: if you’ve ever been part of a union or benefits plan serviced by Horizon, your most sensitive personal info may be sitting on the dark web right now.
How Did This Turn Into a Lawsuit?
After the breach, people weren’t just mad—they were exposed. Some started noticing weird activity on their credit reports. Others had to spend hours locking down accounts. So naturally, a class action lawsuit was filed: Sherwood v. Horizon Actuarial Services, LLC.
The core claim was pretty straightforward. Horizon allegedly didn’t do enough to secure the data. No advanced jargon needed here—it was basic cybersecurity hygiene. And they blew it.
The lawsuit argued that Horizon didn’t patch vulnerabilities, didn’t encrypt data properly, and didn’t respond fast enough when things went sideways.
So What’s in the Settlement?
To avoid dragging this through court, Horizon agreed to pay $8,733,446.36. That’s the total settlement amount.
Here’s how that breaks down for regular people:
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If your data was exposed, you can claim reimbursement for actual money you lost—up to $5,000.
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That includes stuff like identity theft costs, credit monitoring subscriptions, fraud recovery fees, and even hours spent cleaning up the mess.
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In some cases, you don’t need receipts for everything, but it helps if you’ve got them.
Also, Horizon agreed to offer free credit monitoring for a limited time. Worth taking, especially if your SSN was involved.
Important note: Horizon didn’t admit to doing anything wrong. They settled to “avoid the expense and distraction of litigation,” which is lawyer-speak for “let’s just pay and move on.”
Who Can Get the Money?
If you received a notice about the breach, you’re probably already in the class. But even if you didn’t, there’s a chance you still qualify. Horizon’s client base included a bunch of retirement plans, union health trusts, and benefit systems. If your info was handled by any of those, you could be in.
Bottom line: if your info was stored on their system around late 2021, and especially if you were notified about the breach, you're likely eligible.
How Do You File a Claim?
You’ll need to submit your claim through an official claims website—don’t Google randomly and click the first link. Scam sites love this kind of thing. Look for something like “Horizon Data Breach Settlement” or “Sherwood v. Horizon Actuarial claim form.”
To file, you’ll usually need:
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Your contact info
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Proof of identity
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Documentation for losses, if you’re asking for reimbursement
Make sure to file before the deadline. Claims windows close fast in these settlements, and once it's done, that's it. No second chances.
Why Does This Matter?
This isn’t just about $8.7 million or a corporate slap on the wrist. This case is part of a bigger shift in how companies are being held accountable for weak data security.
Data breaches used to just end with a “We take your privacy seriously” email. Now, victims are getting financial compensation—and companies are being forced to pay up. Think of this as a wake-up call, both for businesses and individuals.
If a consulting firm like Horizon can get hit, so can any organization managing your personal data. The burden is shifting: it’s not your fault your info was leaked, and now there’s a legal path to get something back.
What Happens Next?
The court has already approved the settlement terms, and the claims process is rolling out. Once everything’s finalized, payout checks or direct deposits will start going out.
If you file a complete and valid claim, you could receive:
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Up to $5,000 for documented losses
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Compensation for lost time (sometimes even without receipts)
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Free credit monitoring for a set period
The actual amount will depend on how many people file and how many claims are approved.
Wrap-Up: Don’t Sleep on This
If your data was caught up in the Horizon breach, take it seriously. A few minutes filling out a claim form could get you actual money. If you wait too long, you’ll miss out.
These kinds of settlements are becoming more common—but only useful if people act. Horizon won’t chase you down to give you cash. You have to raise your hand and file.
Look up your name in the breach database. Check the official settlement site. Submit your claim. Don’t leave money on the table.
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