Inova Health Privacy Class Action, $3.1M Settlement for Tracking Pixel Violations—Deadline April 6, 2026
Inova Health Care Services agreed to pay $3,147,390.04 to settle allegations that it collected and shared patient information through tracking pixels on its websites without authorization. The lawsuit alleges Inova violated the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act by using Facebook Pixel, Google Pixel, and similar technologies to disclose personally identifiable and protected health information to third parties. If you visited an Inova website between April 29, 2022, and April 29, 2024, and had a MyChart account, you can submit a claim by April 6, 2026, to receive your share of the settlement.
What Is the Inova Health Privacy Class Action About?
The class action lawsuit—Lugo v. Inova Health Care Services, Case No. 1:24-cv-00700-PTG-WEF—was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on April 29, 2024.
Plaintiff Pedro Lugo, an Inova patient since 2020, alleged that Inova embedded tracking pixels on its public-facing websites and patient portal. These pixels allegedly captured patient data—including what pages patients viewed, what they clicked on, and information that could be linked to their identities—and sent that data to Facebook, Google, and other third parties.
Here’s what makes this significant: the lawsuit contends this data was transmitted alongside unique identifiers like Facebook IDs, User IDs, Client IDs, and IP addresses, allowing these third parties to connect the health-related web activity directly to individual patients.
The complaint claims this violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which prohibits intercepting or disclosing electronic communications without authorization. Inova denies all allegations and disputes that any protected health information under HIPAA was disclosed, but agreed to settle to avoid litigation costs and uncertainty.
Which Inova Patients Are Included in the Settlement Class?
You’re part of the settlement class if you meet these criteria:
You visited an Inova Health Care Services public-facing website at any time from April 29, 2022, through April 29, 2024. You had an Inova MyChart account during this period. Your private information could have been disclosed to third parties via Facebook Pixel, Google Pixel, or similar tracking technologies.
The class period covers two full years of potential tracking pixel activity. If you accessed Inova’s website to schedule appointments, view test results, communicate with providers, or manage your healthcare through their patient portal during this time, you may qualify.
What Legal Claims Did the Lawsuit Make?
The original complaint brought three claims: breach of implied contract, unjust enrichment, and violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
In March 2025, Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles dismissed the contract and unjust enrichment claims but allowed the ECPA claim to proceed. This was a critical ruling because it acknowledged that plaintiffs stated a valid claim under federal privacy law.
The ECPA prohibits intentionally intercepting electronic communications. While Inova argued it was a “party” to the communications and therefore exempt, the court found the lawsuit adequately alleged that Inova intercepted communications “for the purpose of committing” a statutory violation—specifically, potential violations of HIPAA and Virginia’s Health Records Privacy Act.
Here’s the legal principle: even if you’re a party to a communication, you can still violate the ECPA if you intercept it to commit another crime or tort. The court determined that allegation was sufficient to survive dismissal.
What Do Tracking Pixels Do and Why Does This Matter?
Tracking pixels are small pieces of code embedded in websites that collect data about user behavior. When you visit a webpage with a tracking pixel, it fires and sends information to third parties like Facebook or Google.
In healthcare settings, this creates serious privacy concerns. If you’re logged into your MyChart account and browsing pages about specific medical conditions, treatments, or providers, that activity could theoretically be captured and linked to your personal identity.
The lawsuit alleges this is exactly what happened at Inova—that patient health information was disclosed to advertising and analytics companies without explicit consent, potentially allowing those companies to build profiles about patients’ health conditions and medical needs.
HIPAA—the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act—sets strict standards for protecting patient health information. While Inova disputes that HIPAA-protected information was disclosed, the settlement requires Inova to implement remedial measures ensuring its tracking pixel use complies with both ECPA and HIPAA going forward.
How Much Compensation Can You Receive from the $3.1M Settlement?
The settlement creates a $3,147,390.04 fund to compensate eligible class members. After deductions for administration costs, attorney fees, and a service award to the class representative, the remaining amount will be divided equally among all approved claims.
The exact payment amount per person depends on how many valid claims are submitted. No estimates are currently available because the claims process is still open.
This is a “non-reversionary” fund, meaning any unclaimed money doesn’t go back to Inova—it stays in the settlement fund. However, this also means more claims filed equals smaller individual payments.
Each approved claimant receives an equal pro-rata share. You can choose to receive payment via check, Venmo, or PayPal.
What Are the Critical Deadlines for This Settlement?
Here are the dates you need to know:
April 6, 2026: Claim submission deadline. Your claim form must be submitted online or postmarked by this date to receive payment.
February 27, 2026: Deadline to opt out of the settlement or object to its terms.
April 16, 2026: Final approval hearing at 10:00 a.m. ET. The court will decide whether to approve the settlement.
Approximately 58 days after final approval: Payment distribution begins if the court approves the settlement.
Missing the April 6 deadline means you won’t receive any compensation, even if you’re eligible. Don’t wait—submit your claim now.
How Do You Submit a Claim for the Inova Settlement?
You have two options for filing your claim:
Online: Visit HealthPixelSettlement.com and complete the claim form electronically. This is the fastest and most secure method.
By Mail: Download the PDF claim form, print it, complete it, and mail it to:
Lugo v. Inova Health Care Services Settlement Administrator
P.O. Box 5714
Portland, OR 97228-5714
You must provide the email address associated with your Inova MyChart account on your claim form. This helps verify your eligibility.
If you received a settlement notice in the mail, you’ll have a unique ID and PIN to use when filing online. If you didn’t receive a notice but believe you qualify, you can still file a claim—just make sure you meet the class definition requirements.
What Happens After You Submit Your Claim?
Once you file your claim, the settlement administrator will review it to verify you meet the eligibility criteria. They’ll check whether you had a MyChart account during the class period and visited Inova’s website between April 29, 2022, and April 29, 2024.
If your claim is approved, you’ll automatically receive payment approximately 58 days after the court grants final approval at the April 16, 2026 hearing.
If you chose to receive payment by check, it will expire 120 days after issuance, so deposit it promptly.
You can contact the settlement administrator with questions at:
Phone: 1-877-757-7915
Email: [email protected]
What Are You Giving Up by Staying in the Settlement?
By remaining in the settlement class and not opting out, you’re releasing your right to sue Inova for the claims covered by this settlement. Specifically, you’re giving up claims related to Inova’s use of tracking pixels on its websites from April 29, 2022, through April 29, 2024.
This release applies whether you submit a claim or not. Simply being part of the class means you can’t bring your own lawsuit over these issues later.
If you want to preserve your right to sue Inova separately, you must opt out by February 27, 2026. To opt out, send an email or letter stating you want to be excluded from the settlement. Include your name, address, phone number, email, the case name and number (Lugo v. Inova Health Care Services, Case No. 1:24-cv-00700-PTG-WEF), and your signature.
Send opt-out requests to: [email protected] or mail to the settlement administrator address above.
What Changes Is Inova Making to Protect Patient Privacy?
Beyond the monetary payment, the settlement requires Inova to implement remedial measures ensuring its tracking pixel usage complies with federal law.
Specifically, Inova must ensure its tracking pixels materially comply with the Electronic Communications Privacy Act and HIPAA. This means reviewing how tracking technologies are deployed, what data they collect, and whether proper safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorized disclosure of protected health information.
These types of business practice changes are common in privacy settlements. They’re designed to prevent the alleged conduct from happening again and give patients greater confidence that their health information remains private when they use Inova’s online services.
How Do Tracking Pixel Lawsuits Fit Into Broader Healthcare Privacy Litigation?
The Inova case is part of a growing wave of lawsuits targeting healthcare providers for their use of website tracking technologies.
Similar cases have been filed against other hospital systems and healthcare companies, including settlements like the Geisinger Health data breach class action settlement and the Lemonaid Health tracking pixel settlement. These cases reflect increasing scrutiny of how health organizations handle patient data in digital environments.
Courts are still working out the boundaries of ECPA liability in the tracking pixel context. Some courts have dismissed these claims, finding that commercial purposes for data collection don’t trigger the “crime or tort” exception to the ECPA’s party exception. But the Inova case survived dismissal, suggesting courts may be willing to let these claims proceed where plaintiffs allege potential HIPAA violations alongside ECPA claims.
For patients, this litigation highlights the importance of understanding how your health information is used online—and holding providers accountable when they fail to protect it properly.
What Should You Do If You’re Unsure Whether You Qualify?
If you had an Inova MyChart account and visited any Inova website between April 29, 2022, and April 29, 2024, you likely qualify.
This includes visits to schedule appointments, access test results, communicate with providers through the patient portal, or browse health information on Inova’s site.
You don’t need proof of harm to submit a claim. The settlement compensates class members based on the alleged disclosure of their information, not whether they suffered specific damages.
Review the FAQ section on HealthPixelSettlement.com if you’re uncertain. The settlement administrator can answer questions about eligibility at 1-877-757-7915 or [email protected].
Remember: filing a false claim is perjury and harms other eligible class members. Only file if you genuinely meet the requirements.
What Common Mistakes Should You Avoid When Filing Your Claim?
The biggest mistake is missing the April 6, 2026 deadline. Mark your calendar and file as soon as possible.
Second, make sure you provide the email address associated with your MyChart account. This is required to verify your eligibility, and claims without this information may be rejected.
Third, if you received a settlement notice with a unique ID and PIN, use those when filing online. They streamline the process and help ensure your claim is processed correctly.
Finally, don’t try to opt out and file a claim. You can’t do both. If you opt out, you forfeit any settlement payment but preserve your right to sue separately. If you stay in and file a claim, you get compensated but give up your right to sue.
Last Updated: January 28, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
If you had an Inova MyChart account and visited their website between April 2022 and April 2024, file your claim by April 6, 2026, to receive your share of the $3.1M settlement. Don’t leave money on the table—submit your claim at HealthPixelSettlement.com today.
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About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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