Full Answer
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.”
How did I receive notice of the settlement?
Notice of the Settlement was recently issued to potential Class Members through email and mail. The Claims Administrator sent emails using the Blue Cross Blue Shield logos from [email protected].
Who is covered by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Act?
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.
Where do I Send my Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement notice?
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”. An example of the email notice and postcard notice can be found on the Important Documents page of this website. 6.
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.
What happened with the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement?
Instead, Plaintiffs and Settling Defendants have agreed to a Settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation,” the BCBS settlement website shared. The parties reached this settlement in October 2020 and the agreement has now been approved by the federal judge whose court handled the case.
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.
Why is there a BCBS lawsuit?
The 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
When will the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement be issued?
This is a legitimate lawsuit with a settlement that received preliminary court approval in October 2020.
Can you file a claim with Blue Cross Blue Shield?
No. A plan member may still file a claim. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement website provides directions on the process and the filing deadline (November 5, 2021).
Is spousal coverage applicable to family members?
Member contribution s toward spousal and family member coverage are not applicable. Also, if member coverage was noncontributory (e.g., as with Pastor’s Participation or the former Traditional Program), it also would not be applicable.
Register to Receive Settlement Notice
Notice will be provided to class members in the spring of 2021, at which point all eligible class members will be able to easily file a claim online at this website to recover from this settlement. There is no need to do anything at this time as the Claims Period has not yet begun.
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.
Who is included?
The Court certified two Settlement Classes in this case―a Damages Class and an Injunctive Relief Class. For more information about these classes, please see FAQ 5.
How do I participate in the Settlement?
Upon commencement of the Notice process, you will be able to file a claim. Notice will be sent through mail or email to Damages Class Members and there will be a nationwide media campaign to inform class members the claims process has begun.
What is the settlement of BCBS?
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.”
How much is the settlement, and how much will individuals and employers receive?
The website does say that “Class Members who submit valid claims may receive a cash payment from the Net Settlement Fund,” which, “after deducting attorneys’ fees, administration expenses and other costs from the $2.67 billion Settlement Fund,” will be about $1.9 billion.
Who is part of the settlement classes?
Individuals, fully- and self-insured employers, and employees who “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” may be eligible for a payment under the settlement. The settlement class periods are:
How do people file a claim?
Claims can be filed online or by mail by November 5, 2021. Individuals, employees, and employers who fail to file a claim “will remain a member of the Settlement Classes and be bound by the Settlement” but “will not get a payment.” The only way to receive a payment from the settlement is to fill out a claim form. Of course, as with any class action lawsuit, individuals can choose to exclude themselves from the class and retain their right to sue.
Why is it important to know that the defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing?
It is important to know that the defendants “deny all allegations of wrongdoing” and “assert that their conduct results in lower healthcare costs and greater access to care for their customers.” Furthermore, “The Court has not decided who is right or wrong” in the case. Instead, the plaintiffs and the defendants have “agreed to a Settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation.”
When will Medicare be paid out for 2020?
from September 1, 2015 through October 16, 2020 for self-insured groups and their employees. According to the settlement website, “Dependents, beneficiaries (including minors), and non-employees are NOT eligible to receive payment.”. Additionally, Medicare beneficiaries and government accounts are not part of the class.
Can you file more than one BCBS claim?
When filing a claim, members and prior members will be asked to provide member and group numbers for any BCBS policy they had during the claim period, and they can provide information for more than one policy if they have been a BCBS member more than once, which is certainly possible given the twelve-year timespan.
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 ...
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.
What is the purpose of a claims administrator?
The Claims Administrator is required to keep this information confidential and use it only for the purposes of effectuating a notice plan, administering and calculating claims, distributing Settlement funds, and otherwise carrying out the work necessary to administer the Settlement.
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.
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…