Fully insured employers and individual consumers of BCBS health insurance with coverage at any time between February 7th, 2008 and October 16, 2020 are eligible to participate in the settlement. Employees getting coverage through their fully insured employer are also eligible to apply to be class members in the settlement.
Full Answer
How do I contact Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement?
The Claims Administrator sent emails using the Blue Cross Blue Shield logos from [email protected]. The Claims Administrator also sent postcards containing Blue Cross Blue Shield logos with the return address “Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91390, Seattle, WA 98111”.
What is the class action 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.”
Can I be excluded from the BCBS settlement?
Answer: Any potential class member can request to be excluded from the settlement. If a person or business does opt-out they will receive no money from the settlement but will retain the right to sue the BCBS plan for the claims in this case.
What does the BCBS settlement mean for Home Depot?
As part of the settlement, BCBS companies agreed to make changes in the way they do business to increase opportunities for competition in the market for health insurance. However, Home Depot has argued the settlement doesn't go far enough in boosting competition among the Blue insurers, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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.
What happens if you select the alternative option?
If you select the Alternative Option, you must submit relevant data or records showing a higher contribution percentage. Otherwise the Default Option will be used. Instructions for submitting your claim are on the claim form, available here. When required, sufficient documentation shall include an attestation signed under penalty of perjury when other documentation is no longer available.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How do I Exclude Myself, or “Opt Out”, from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement?
If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you may send a request for exclusion (“opt out”). You will not receive any money, but you will keep your right to sue Blue Cross Blue Shield for the claims in this case. Opt outs must be postmarked by July 28, 2021.
When did the Blue Cross Blue Shield class action lawsuit end?
The attorneys representing the plaintiffs and the defendants agreed to a $2.67 billion settlement on October 16, 2020.
How did Blue Cross Blue Shield violate antitrust laws?
The class action alleged that Blue Cross Blue Shield violated antitrust laws by entering into agreements not to compete and to limit competition among in selling health insurance and administrative services for health insurance.
When can I opt out of Blue Cross Blue Shield?
$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).
When will Blue Cross Blue Shield pay out in 2021?
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement provides monetary payments to class members who submit a valid claim by November 5 , 2021. To make a claim and receive a small payment, you must file a claim form online or by mail.
When do you have to mail your exclusion request?
You must mail or email your Exclusion Request, postmarked or received by July 28, 2021, to:
How long is BCBS settlement?
There have been tens of millions of people covered under BCBS plans during the settlement period and the settlement includes 13 years for fully-insured plans (2008-2020). During that time, trillions of dollars of insured premium were paid. Much will depend on the participation and claim filing rates of employers and individuals.
When do BCBS claims have to be posted?
Answer: After the claims period has closed (remember the deadline to file/postmark your claim is November 5, 2021), the settlement claims administrator will create a secure portal on the settlement website and post the year-by-year premiums and/or administrative fees (which form the basis of the claimant’s ultimate distribution) assigned to each claimant, based on data provided by the BCBS plan and any other information gather by the claim administrator through the claim process. While this figure will not represent the claimant’s settlement payment, it will identify the basis for calculating such payment. Claimants will be able to review the paid premium or fees used to calculate their award and can contest those figures and request a correction within 30 days of the secure portal posting.
What is a JND settlement agreement?
Answer: The settlement agreement requires that each BCBS plan provide the settlement claim administrator (JND Legal Administration) with billed premium and fee information and covered lives counts, as well contact information for class members, including a personal identifier (“unique ID”) that will be assigned to each potential claimant.
What is the settlement of a class action lawsuit?
In October of 2020, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies reached an agreement to settle a class action lawsuit in a case brought by subscribers related to licensing agreements within the BCBS system. While the BCBS Companies rejected claims made by the plaintiffs in the case, they agreed to provide monetary payments to eligible individuals and employers and to make some operations changes across the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system. The parties agreed to a settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation. The settlement terms will be reviewed by the Court on October 20, 2021 to determine if the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate.
What entities are eligible to file a claim?
Entities such as multiemployer welfare arrangements (MEWAs), Associations, and Taft Hartley Plans are also eligible to file a claim. BCBS Medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and stop-loss products are included. Enrollment only in a stand-alone vision or dental plan does not qualify for settlement consideration.
What is the phone number for settlement?
In addition, there is a settlement customer service line, (888) 681-1142, that employers or individuals may use to speak to a representative ...
Is a BCBS employee a class member?
Answer: Both employers (i.e. plan sponsors), and employees (but not dependents) covered under group health plans, as well as individuals purchasing BCBS insurance directly, are class members if they purchased or were enrolled in:
Is The Settlement Legit?
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…
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 ...
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…
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 [email protected] 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…