Settlement FAQs

is there a settlement against bcbs

by Mrs. Mona Rippin Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago

A long-running $2.7 billion antitrust settlement against Blue Cross Blue Shield has been finalized in federal court. U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor in Alabama handed up the order on Tuesday, with the settlement to go into effect in 30 days.Aug 11, 2022

What is the settlement with Blue Cross Blue Shield?

In 2020, a proposed settlement was reached and received preliminary approval by a federal judge in Alabama. Under the terms of the settlement, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member plans would agree to: Make changes to the way they do business to increase opportunities for competition in the health insurance market; and

What is the Blue Cross/Blue Cross Blue Shield case?

This settlement arose from a class action antitrust lawsuit that was reached on behalf of individuals and companies that purchased or received health insurance provided or administered by a Blue Cross Blue Shield company.

How do I file a lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield?

To do so, you must send a letter saying that it is your “Notice of Intention to Appear in In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation.” Be sure to include your name, including the name of your business (if applicable), current mailing address, telephone number, and signature.

How much did the judge pay for the Blue Cross case?

The judge has awarded legal fees of $626 million, representing 23.47% of the settlement fund. A long-running $2.7 billion antitrust settlement against Blue Cross Blue Shield has been finalized in federal court. U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor in Alabama handed up the order on Tuesday, with the settlement to go into effect in 30 days.

How much money in BCBS settlement?

$2.67 billionThe tentative $2.67 billion settlement was reached in October 2020 after more than 35 Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plans, including Highmark, were sued for allegedly violating antitrust laws, according to https://www.bcbssettlement.com, the settlement's official website.

Is the BCBS settlement Legitimate?

IS THE BLUE CROSS SETTLEMENT REAL? Yes, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement is legit, and some involved may have even received postcards in the mail notifying them of the lawsuit.

When can I expect my Facebook settlement check?

When will your settlement check arrive? Facebook class action update: “The Settlement Administrator began sending settlement payments to class members on May 9, 2022. It will take about two weeks to finish mailing the checks and processing the electronic payments.

Is Anthem Part of the BCBS settlement?

In October 2020, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield was part of a class action settlement in a case brought by Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers related to licensing agreements within the Blue Cross and Blue Shield System.

What is the BCBS settlement all about?

The proposed settlement resolves claims that Blue Cross Blue Shield companies conspired to limit competition, in turn boosting costs for policyholders. A judge still needs to approve the settlement. If that happens, a $2.67 billion settlement fund will be established.

What is BCBS settlement email?

info@BCBSsettlement.comThe settlement website is www.bcbssettlement.com. The toll-free settlement hotline is 1-888-681-1142. The email address is info@BCBSsettlement.com.

How much did people get from Facebook settlement?

– Facebook's parent company – finally reached a settlement agreement worth a total of $90 million.

How can I check on my Facebook settlement check?

If you're unsure about your part in the settlement, you can call the Settlement Administrator at 1-844-799-2417.

How do I see my Facebook payouts?

To find Payouts from your Facebook Page on a desktop computer:Click the drop-down icon at the top right corner of your Facebook Page. Select Settings & Privacy, then Settings.In the side navigation, click Payouts.Click on the Payout Account ID drop-down, and select the account you want to view or update.

What happened with the anthem lawsuit?

Anthem, Inc., an Indianapolis-based insurer, agreed to pay a record-setting $115 million to settle a class action lawsuit filed over a 2015 breach that affected 78.8 million individuals, Bloomberg reported June 23.

Why is Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield being sued?

According to the lawsuit, Anthem BCBS of Georgia's policy violates the prudent layperson standard, which is a federal law requiring insurance companies to cover the costs of emergency care based on a patient's symptoms – not their final diagnosis.

Why are government accounts excluded from BCBS settlement?

Government accounts are excluded from the settlement class as are entities that only had standalone dental and/or vision products. There are two Settlement Class Periods (timeframe for coverage/TPA services).

Where is the unique ID on the BCBS settlement postcard?

If you received a postcard notice, your Unique ID is on the upper left corner of the inside of your postcard. If you received an email notice, the Unique ID was provided toward the top of the email body.

Did Blue Cross have a settlement with Memorial Hermann?

Memorial Hermann hospital at the Texas Medical Center on July 24, 2019. The Memorial Hermann health system and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas on Friday announced that the two parties have reached a contract agreement, allowing nearly 200,000 patients to continue care at Memorial Hermann hospitals.

Is ClassAction org legit?

ClassAction.org is a group of online professionals who are committed to exposing corporate wrongdoing and giving consumers the tools they need to fight back. We've been reporting on the legal space for nearly a decade and have built relationships with class action and mass tort attorneys across the country.

When is the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement?

The final hearing on the settlement will be held on October 20, 2021. Multiple different damages classes including fully insured and self-funded plans are eligible to receive payment under the settlement.

What is a proposed settlement?

The Notice of Proposed Settlement was issued to inform employers and individuals who are eligible for payment (the damage class) about the proposed settlement and give them time to decide what action (if any) they wish to take and the deadlines for doing so. If the settlement is approved, class members will be bound by the terms of the settlement unless they affirmatively opt out of the settlement. The following table describes the options these class members have.

When are self funded accounts due for Blue Cross?

Self-Funded Accounts [2] (and their employees) that purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plan between September 1, 2015 – October 16, 2020.

Who is not eligible for injunctive relief?

Injunctive Relief Class. Dependents, beneficiaries (including minors), and non-employees are not part of the damages class and are not eligible to receive payment; however, they will still benefit from changes made to current market practices as a result of the settlement.

Can an employer ask for settlement information?

Employers may receive questions from their employees about this settlement, including advice on whether to file a claim or requests for information the employee needs to submit as part of their claim submission. While employers do not have any formal obligations to provide any notice/information, it may be helpful to provide some type of notice explaining the settlement to employees and informing them that they may have the right to file their own claims. Employees may also request certain information from employers (e.g., group numbers, policy numbers, coverage dates, etc.) that they need to file their claims. If employers have this information readily available, they may wish to provide it to employees (although again, there is no specific requirement to do so). Employers should be cautious in any communications with employees and should avoid saying or doing anything that appears to dissuade employees from filing their own claims.

Do employers need to inform employees about the compensation?

The classified members of the Blue cross blue shield lawsuit are expected to receive a formal notice as an owner/employer. Once you get this notification, possibly, some other employees of your company may also get this notification. However, as an employer, you are not responsible legally to notify your workers about the settlement.

How will Employees receive their compensation?

Workers of an organization covered under the health plans will receive a settlement notification once the compensation would be finalized. Along with the notification via email or mail, there could be an option for a direct claim.

How much information should be shared with employees?

A common question may be raised: If an owner of the organization receives the compensation amount, how much it is necessary for the employer to notify his workers? Referring to FAQs # 35, detailed on the settlement website, NO.

How much settlement amount each plaintiff would get?

The important question boggling everyone’s mind – The amount each plaintiff would get depends on the number of plaintiffs filing the claim to join the suit as class action members. Although, for a comprehensive idea, the following are some of the calculations that are shared to refer:

Do you need to hire a firm or attorney for legal representation?

If you are influenced by many resolved cases of a law firm or an attorney, then you must be aware that these firms often charge the case with a no-upfront cost which means they deliver contingency-based service. Some firms also ask for the advance payments from the expected settlement amount for which they represent you.

Tips for filing a financial compensation claim

Once you have received a formal notification in your email, it must be a unique ID in your email that you should look for. While sometimes it is not always necessary to have a personalized ID but if it has it will definitely make claiming easier.

References of the Blue cross blue shield lawsuit

Blue Cross Blue Shield lawsuit formal settlement resources can be checked from the following links. The links include Frequently Asked Questions, Important reference documents, and a link for filing the claim.

What is the Blue Cross Blue Shield case?

The case was filed by a group of individuals and companies who purchased or received health insurance from a Blue Cross Blue Shield company and claim that the defendants—Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and a slew of individual Blue plans—agreed not to compete with each other in selling health insurance and administrative services. According to the lawsuit, the defendants’ alleged anticompetitive conduct caused subscribers and enrollees to pay more for insurance or administrative services than they otherwise would have paid.

Who Is Covered by the Settlement?

The settlement covers individuals and insured groups (and their employees) who purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plan between February 7, 2008 and October 16, 2020.

How Much Can I Get from the Settlement?

Those who submit valid claims are eligible to receive a cash payment from the approximately $1.9 billion net settlement fund. The amount of the payment will depend on, among other factors, the amount of premiums or administrative fees you paid and the number of valid claims that are filed.

What is classaction.org?

ClassAction.org is a group of online professionals (designers, developers and writers) with years of experience in the legal industry.

How much is the net settlement fund?

Those who submit valid claims are eligible to receive a cash payment from the approximately $1.9 billion net settlement fund. The amount of the payment will depend on, among other factors, the amount of premiums or administrative fees you paid and the number of valid claims that are filed.

Is the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement a scam?

First off, the settlement is not a scam. It’s the result of a class action antitrust lawsuit called In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406 and you can find the court-approved website for it here.

Introduction

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Many individuals and employers have recently received a postcard informing them of a proposed $2.67 billion settlement stemming from a 2012 class action lawsuit (In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406, N.D. Ala. Master File No. 2:13-cv-20000-RDP) that alleged anti-competitive behavior/collusion among …
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Background

  • In 2012, plaintiffs alleged that the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its 35 member companies violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by agreeing not to compete in selling health insurance and administration of commercial health benefit products in the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as agreeing to other means of limiting competition in the health insurance …
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Key Provisions of The Settlement

  • Under the terms of the settlement, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member plans would agree to: 1. Make changes to the way they do business to increase opportunities for competition in the health insurance market; and 2. Allow qualified national self-funded accounts to request a second bid for coverage from a member plan of their cho...
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Damages Classes

  • The following classes may be eligible for payment from the settlement amount: 1. Individuals that purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plan between February 7, 2008 – October 16, 2020; 2. Insured Groups (and their employees) that purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insurance or a…
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Options For Damage Class Members

  • The Notice of Proposed Settlementwas issued to inform employers and individuals who are eligible for payment (the damage class) about the proposed settlement and give them time to decide what action (if any) they wish to take and the deadlines for doing so. If the settlement is approved, class members will be bound by the terms of the settlement unless they affirmatively …
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What Can/Should Employers do?

  • Employers may receive questions from their employees about this settlement, including advice on whether to file a claim or requests for information the employee needs to submit as part of their claim submission. While employers do not have any formal obligations to provide any notice/information, it may be helpful to provide some type of notice explaining the settlement to …
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Next Steps

  • Next steps for employers who are eligible to file a claim: 1. Decide whether to: 1.1. File Claim 1.1.1. If filing a claim, determine whether to use default assumptions or elect an alternative option for calculating allocation. 1.2. Do Nothing 1.3. Opt Out 1.4. Object 1.5. Speak at Hearing 2. Decide whether to communicate to employees 2.1. If communicating upfront, determine what informati…
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Conclusion

  • It is important for employers to keep in mind that any individual settlement amount is likely to be relatively small – e.g., a few hundred dollars for a large employer, and under $100 for any individual employee. So, while it will be important to understand the allocation methods and the filing options, perspective is needed when determining whether to propose an alternative allocat…
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Is The Settlement Legit?

Image
First off, the settlement is not a scam. It’s the result of a class action antitrust lawsuit called In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406 and you can find the court-approved website for it here. The case was filed by a group of individuals and companies who purchased or received health insurance from a Bl…
See more on classaction.org

How Much Can I Get from The Settlement?

  • Those who submit valid claims are eligible to receive a cash payment from the approximately $1.9 billion net settlement fund. The amount of the payment will depend on, among other factors, the amount of premiums or administrative fees you paid and the number of valid claims that are filed. Payments will not be sent out until the settlement receives final approval and any appeals are re…
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Who Is Covered by The Settlement?

  • The settlement covers individuals and insured groups (and their employees) who purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insurance or administrative services plan between February 7, 2008 and October 16, 2020. The settlement also covers self-funded accounts (and their employees) who purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross or Blue Shield health insu…
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How Do I File A Claim?

  • The easiest way to file a claim is to use the online portal on the settlement website, found here. You’ll need your unique ID from the email or postcard you received. (If you don’t have a unique ID, you can still file a claim using the same portal.) You can also download a copy of the claim form, found here, and mail it to the below address: All claim forms must be submitted online or postm…
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Where Can I Find More Information?

  • For more information, check out the settlement website, particularly the FAQ section. If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, you can reach out to the settlement administrator at info@BCBSsettlement.com or call toll-free at (888) 681-1142. If you’re interested in getting class action news and updates, including information about settlements, sent straight to your inbox, si…
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