If you bought or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield (BCBS) health insurance or administrative services plan between 2008 and 2020, you may be entitled to money from a Blue Cross Blue Shield class action settlement.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (“BCBSA”) and Settling Individual Blue Plans have reportedly agreed to a class action settlement of an antitrust class action lawsuit brought against them in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Southern Division), styled In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406, N.D. Ala. Master File No. 2:13-cv-20000-RDP.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield class action lawsuit complaint reportedly alleges, among other things, that certain defendants violated antitrust laws by entering into an agreement not to compete with each other and to limit competition among themselves in selling health insurance and administrative services for health insurance, according to the Blue Cross Blue Shield class action settlement notice.
Who Is Included In Blue Cross Blue Shield Class Action Settlement?
The BCBS class action settlement reportedly includes two settlement classes, consisting of a damages class and an injunctive relief class. The BCBS damages class includes, unless otherwise excluded:
All Individuals, Insured Groups (and their employees), and Self Funded Accounts (and their employees), that purchased, were covered by, or were enrolled in a Blue Branded Commercial Health Benefit Product sold, underwritten, insured, administered, or issued by any Settling Individual Blue Plan during the respective class periods. The class period for the fully insured Individuals and Insured Groups (and their employees) is from February 7, 2008, through October 16, 2020 (“Settlement Class Period”). The class period for the Self-Funded Accounts (and their employees) is from September 1, 2015 through October 16, 2020 (“Self-Funded Settlement Class Period”). Dependents, beneficiaries (including minors), and non-employees are NOT included in the Damages Class.
According to the Blue Cross settlement agreement, Settling Individual Blue Plans means all Primary Licensees (and Controlled Affiliates Licensees), including:
- Anthem, Inc.
- Aware Integrated, Inc.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona, Inc.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Inc.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Mutual Insurance Company
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, a Mutual Insurance Company
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wyoming
- Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Inc.
- California Physicians’ Service
- Cambia Health Solutions, Inc.
- Capital Blue Cross
- CareFirst, Inc.
- GoodLife Partners, Inc.
- GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation
- Hawaii Medical Service Association
- Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, d/b/a:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
- HealthNow Systems, Inc.
- HealthyDakota Mutual Holdings
- Highmark Health
- Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc., d/b/a:
- Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
- Independence Health Group, Inc.
- Lifetime Healthcare, Inc.
- Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company
- PREMERA
- Regence BlueShield of Idaho
- Triple-S Management Corporation
- USAble Mutual Insurance Company
- Wellmark, Inc.
What Settlement Benefits Does The BCBS Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Provide?
The Blue Cross Blue Shield class action settlement reportedly provides, among other things, that BCBS will create a $2.67 billion gross settlement fund from which class members can file claim forms (by November 5, 2021) requesting monetary payments. After payment of attorneys fees and expenses and settlement administration costs, the Net Settlement Fund is estimated to be approximately $1.9 billion.
To make a claim and receive a payment, Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement class members must file a claim form online at www.BCBSsettlement.com or by mail (at Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91390 Seattle, WA 98111) postmarked November 5, 2021.
In addition, the BCBS class action settlement provides that the settling Defendants will make changes in the way they do business that will increase the opportunities for competition in the market for health insurance including the establishment of a Monitoring Committee that, for five years, will mediate disputes relating to the implementaion of this injunctive relief.
Where Can You Obtain More Information About The Blue Cross Class Action Settlement?
For more information about the Blue Cross settlement, write to Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement c/o JND Legal Administration PO Box 91390 Seattle, WA 98111, call (888) 681-1142, email the Blue Cross settlement administrator at info@BCBSsettlement.com or visit the Blue Cross class action settlement website at www.bcbssettlement.com