Settlement FAQs

what does the bcbs settlement mean

by Pinkie Dooley Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The settlement resolves a class action lawsuit alleging that BCBS insurers “agreed not to compete with each other 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 market for health insurance and administration of Commercial Health Benefit Products.”

Full Answer

What does the proposed settlement mean for Blue Cross Blue Shield?

“The proposed settlement seeks to increase competition among the various Blue Cross entities through a number of structural changes in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association rules,” Ragsdale said.

What was the settlement in the BCBS case?

While the BCBS Companies rejected claims made by the plaintiffs in the case, they agreed to provide monetary payments to eligible individualsand employersand 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.

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 do I contact BCBS settlement?

The claim administrator can also be contacted by email at [email protected]. Q: Who are settlement class members? 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:

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What is the BCBS settlement all about?

The settlement resolves claims that the insurers violated antitrust laws by entering into an agreement not to compete with each other and to limit competition among themselves in selling health insurance, according to the BCBS settlement website. BCBS has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Is Blue Cross settlement legit?

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.

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.

What is BCBS settlement email?

[email protected] settlement website is www.bcbssettlement.com. The toll-free settlement hotline is 1-888-681-1142. The email address is [email protected].

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.

How do I get my money from Facebook lawsuit?

The lawsuit is known as Facebook Internet Tracking Litigation. Meta denies that it violated any law but has agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and risks associated with continuing the case. To receive a payment from the settlement, you need to submit a claim form by September 22, 2022.

How much is the Facebook settlement?

The court has scheduled a final approval hearing on Oct. 27, 2022, in San Jose, California, where it will consider whether the $90 million settlement is "fair, reasonable, and adequate." It isn't yet clear how many class members there will be or how much each individual will receive.

How much money do you get from 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.

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.

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 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:

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.

How much is the Blue Cross settlement?

If approved after a hearing scheduled for October, the $2.7 billion settlement will be one of the largest class action awards in history. It will likely be split among millions of individuals who purchased Blue Cross policies and those insured through work.

Why did Blue Cross Blue Shield settle for $2.7 billion?

A federal judge in Alabama approved a plan late last year to settle a lawsuit against several Blue Cross Blue Shield affiliates for $2.7 billion because they allegedly hurt customers with rules limiting competition across state lines.

Can affiliates use the Blue Cross brand?

Affiliates competing across state lines won’t be able to use the Blue Cross name in new markets, which could test the strength of the brand. McFerrin said people often associate the name with quality.

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