Southcoast Health Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers

Southcoast Health System Inc, a not-for-profit, community-based health system in southeastern Massachusetts, disclosed a data breach that exposed consumers' personal information.

On Feb. 16, 2026, a Southcoast Health user account was compromised, resulting in a breach of security and unauthorized access to personal information. The compromised account allowed an unauthorized party to access the personal data of affected individuals during the period of the compromise.

The incident involved a single user account rather than a broader system intrusion, and the company described the duration of the compromise as brief.

The personal information exposed in the breach included names and Social Security numbers.

The breach was disclosed to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation on May 5, 2026.

Southcoast Health's response to the breach

Southcoast Health is offering affected individuals 24 months of free credit monitoring and fraud assistance services. These services include single bureau credit monitoring, a single bureau credit report and a single bureau credit score.

In addition to credit monitoring, Southcoast Health is providing proactive fraud assistance to help affected individuals with any questions they may have or in the event they become a victim of fraud. This service is also being provided through Cyberscout.

Southcoast Health has also established a dedicated phone line for consumers who need more information or assistance related to this incident. Affected individuals can call 508-973-8000 to speak with a Southcoast representative.

Steps to take if your information was exposed

• Place a credit freeze on credit reports through Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to help prevent new accounts from being opened without consent.
• Consider placing a fraud alert by contacting Equifax at 1-800-525-6285, Experian at 1-888-397-3742 or TransUnion at 1-833-799-5355.
• Request free credit reports from all three major credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com and review them carefully for any unfamiliar accounts or suspicious activity.
• Monitor financial accounts and bank statements closely for any unauthorized transactions, as Social Security numbers can be used to access or open accounts in someone else's name.
• Report suspected identity theft to the FTC through its identity theft resource page or by calling 877-438-4338.
• Be cautious of phishing attempts including suspicious emails, texts or phone calls that reference Southcoast Health or this data breach by name.