Not all data breaches carry the same risk. When a company reports that “personal information” was exposed, what really matters is what kind of data was involved.

Two terms appear often in breach notices: PII and PHI. The difference between them can determine how harmful a breach is—and whether affected individuals may have viable data breach claims.

What Is PII?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is any data that can identify a specific person, either on its own or when combined with other information.

Common examples include names, email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and financial account information.

PII is widely collected across industries, but there is no single federal law governing how it must be protected. As a result, the risk and potential legal exposure can vary depending on what type of PII was exposed and how it can be misused.

What Is PHI?

Protected Health Information (PHI) is a specific subset of PII tied to health care. It includes medical records, diagnoses, prescriptions, insurance information, and billing data—but only when handled by healthcare providers, health plans, or their business associates under HIPAA.

PHI is subject to strict federal rules, mandatory breach notifications, and heightened penalties.

Why PHI Breaches Are Often More Dangerous

All PHI is PII, but not all PII is PHI. What makes PHI breaches more serious is the depth and sensitivity of the information exposed.

A compromised email address may be inconvenient. A compromised medical record can expose diagnoses, treatment history, medications, and insurance details—information that can be used for medical identity theft or long‑term fraud.

Because medical information cannot simply be changed, the impact of PHI breaches often lasts much longer.

Why This Matters for Data Breach Claims

When evaluating potential data breach claims, courts and regulators often look at:

• The sensitivity of the data exposed
• The risk of identity theft or misuse
• Whether specific laws (such as HIPAA) apply

Breaches involving Social Security numbers, financial data, or medical records often present greater legal and personal risk than breaches involving limited contact information.

What to Do If You Receive a Data Breach Notice 

If you receive a notice:

• Read it carefully to identify what data was involved
• Enroll in any credit or identity monitoring offered
• Monitor financial and medical accounts for unusual activity
• Keep copies of all breach‑related communications
• Reach out to BG&G and see how we can help

Learn More About Data Breach Claims

If you received a data breach notice and have questions about what it means, paying attention to the type of information exposed is an important first step. Not all breaches raise the same concerns, and the impact often depends on whether sensitive personal or medical data was involved.
Our firm regularly monitors significant data breaches and represents individuals in matters involving the improper handling of personal information. If you believe your information may have been affected, we encourage you to stay informed, review all notices carefully, and monitor your accounts.

For additional updates and resources on data breaches and consumer protection, visit www.bgandg.com/