Full Answer
What is the settlement amount for Blue Cross Blue Shield?
First, you can submit a claim by November 5, 2021 to receive a small amount of money (i.e. $300). Second, you can opt out of the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement by July 28, 2021, retain your own attorney, and receive a lot more money (i.e. $3,000.00).
Can I Opt Out of the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement?
Second, you can opt out of the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement by July 28, 2021, retain your own attorney, and receive a lot more money (i.e. $3,000.00). However, you will get more money by opting out of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement.
Who is eligible to receive payment from the settlement class periods?
You may be eligible to receive payment if you are an Individual, Insured Group 1 (and their employees) or Self-Funded Account 2 (and their employees) that purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plan during one of the two Settlement Class Periods.
Why did BCBS write off a settlement?
Amidst this entire settlement, BCBS never actually admitted fault and they wrote off this settlement under “costs of doing business. Ultimately, since this cost goes on BCBS’s tax forms as a business expense, objectors claim they will try to make up for it in future years.
What is a settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield?
Class Representatives (“Plaintiffs”) reached a Settlement on October 16, 2020 with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (“BCBSA”) and Settling Individual Blue Plans. BCBSA and Settling Individual Blue Plans are called “Settling Defendants.”. Plaintiffs allege that Settling Defendants violated antitrust laws by entering into an agreement not ...
How do I participate in the Settlement?
To make a claim and receive a payment, you must file a claim form online or by mail postmarked by November 5, 2021. Claims may be submitted online or by mail to:
What is this Settlement about?
This settlement, arising from a class action antitrust lawsuit called In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406, N.D. Ala. Master File No. 2:13-cv-20000-RDP (the “Settlement”), was reached on behalf of individuals and companies that purchased or received health insurance provided or administered by a Blue Cross Blue Shield company. Class Representatives (“Plaintiffs”) reached a Settlement on October 16, 2020 with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (“BCBSA”) and Settling Individual Blue Plans. BCBSA and Settling Individual Blue Plans are called “Settling Defendants.”
Who decides whether to approve a settlement?
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement. Payments will be made if the Court approves the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved. Please be patient.
How did settlement defendants violate antitrust laws?
Plaintiffs allege that Settling 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. Settling Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing and assert that their conduct results in lower healthcare costs and greater access to care for their customers. The Court has not decided who is right or wrong. Instead, Plaintiffs and Settling Defendants have agreed to a Settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation.
How many members of large, geographically dispersed, self-funded national Employers are eligible for the second blue?
The Second Blue Bid provision of the Settlement Agreement was designed to enable 33 million Members of large, geographically dispersed, self-funded national Employers to have the opportunity to receive a Second Blue Bid.
Why is the Court approving the settlement notice?
The Court authorized the Notice because Class Members have a right to know about the proposed Settlement of certain claims against Settling Defendants in this class action lawsuit and about Class Members' options before the Court decides whether to approve the Settlement. If the Court approves the Settlement, and after objections ...
What is a class action lawsuit?
In a class action lawsuit, one or more people or businesses called class representatives sue on behalf of others who have similar claims. All of the people or businesses who have similar claims together are a “class” or “class members” if the class is certified by the Court. Individual class members do not have to file a lawsuit to participate in ...
Is Blue Cross Blue Shield a class member?
If you were covered by certain Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plans between February 2008 and October 2020, you may be a Class Member. The Court certified two Settlement Classes in this case, a Damages Class and an Injunctive Relief Class. You may be included in both Settlement Classes.
Can you sue a settlement defendant?
This means that you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Settling Defendants that makes claims based on the facts and legal theories involved in this case or any of the business practices the Settling Defendants adopt pursuant to the Settlement Agreement.
Did the court decide in favor of the plaintiffs or settlement defendants?
The Court did not decide in favor of the Plaintiffs or Settling Defendants. Instead, both sides have agreed to the Settlement. Both sides want to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation. The Plaintiffs and their attorneys think the Settlement is best for the Settlement Classes. 5.
Do you have to file a lawsuit to join a class action?
Individual class members do not have to file a lawsuit to participate in the class action settlement or be bound by the judgment in the class action. One court resolves the issues for everyone in the class, except for those who exclude themselves from the class. 4. Why is there a Settlement?
How much is the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement?
If you were covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plans between February 2008 and October 2020, you may be owed a cash refund from this $2.67 billion settlement. The settlement was agreed to after allegations that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association used price fixing to artificially raise the price ...
Why did the BCBSA charge higher rates?
The class members claimed that the rules allowed BCBSA members to charge significantly higher rates by not competing with each other. With limiting competition between each member of the association, members were able to create artificially high rates that consumers were forced to pay due to lack of other options.
How long has BCBSA been in litigation?
With BCBSA representing nearly a third of Americans with private health insurance, the impact of such allegations is massive. After 8 years of litigation, 15 million pages of documents, over 120 depositions, and more than a dozen motions to dismiss the plaintiff’s claims, all 36 members of the BCBSA have agreed to a proposed $2.67 billion ...
When is the Blue Cross Blue Shield refund due?
If you were covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plans between February 2008 and October 2020, you may be owed a cash refund from this $2.67 billion settlement. The settlement was agreed to after allegations that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association used price fixing to artificially raise the price of insurance rates across the country. Filing Deadline: November 5, 2021
When is the deadline for class action lawsuits in 2021?
As the November 5, 2021, filing deadline has passed, we are no longer accepting clients for this class action.
What is the proposed settlement for Blue Cross Blue Shield?
The proposed settlement resolves claims that Blue Cross Blue Shield companies conspired to limit competition, in turn boosting costs for policyholders.
How long does it take to fill out a claim form?
Filling out the claim form takes only a few minutes. You will need your insurance subscriber information.