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 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”.
How many Blue Cross Blue Shield companies are there?
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 35 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. In November 2020, Anthem said it would pay $594 million as its share of the antitrust settlement. Anthem operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in 14 states.
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 can I get from BCBS settlement?
How much could you receive? It depends on how many people filed claims. If approved, the settlement fund is estimated to be around $1.9 billion after attorney fees and administration costs are deducted.
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.
What does it mean when a settlement is in review?
Settlement Review means the evaluation by the Settlement Facility, under Basic Review or Comprehensive Review, of each Unresolved Asbestos Claim or Post-Confirmation Asbestos Liability submitted to the Settlement Facility under the processes and procedures established by the CRP to determine whether a Settlement Offer ...
How do I get my $400 from Facebook?
You must have filed a claim form by November 23, 2020 to receive a payout. If you do not remember whether you filed, or if you think there has been a mistake, you can contact one of the following: Settlement Administrator: 1-844-799-2417. Edelson PC, lawyer appointment to the case: 1-866-354-3015.
How can I check on my Facebook settlement check?
According to the settlement website FAQ, it will take two weeks to finish mailing the checks and processing electronic payments. If you're unsure about your part in the settlement, you can call the Settlement Administrator at 1-844-799-2417.
How long after settlement Do you receive the money?
If your matter settles electronically, the funds should appear in your nominated account within a couple of hours after settlement. However, PEXA does recommend allowing a maximum of 24 hours just in case banking delays occur.
How do I find out how much my settlement is?
After your attorney clears all your liens, legal fees, and applicable case costs, the firm will write you a check for the remaining amount of your settlement. Your attorney will send you the check and forward it to the address he or she has on file for you.
How long does it take to get paid after a settlement?
While rough estimates usually put the amount of time to receive settlement money around four to six weeks after a case it settled, the amount of time leading up to settlement will also vary. There are multiple factors to consider when asking how long it takes to get a settlement check.
What is happening with the Facebook lawsuit in Illinois?
More than a million Facebook users in Illinois are part of a seven-year, Class Action Lawsuit against the company, alleging it broke the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act by collecting and storing biometric data — physical characteristics — of users without their consent, through things like facial recognition ...
What is the status of the Facebook lawsuit in Illinois?
Facebook, Inc. has settled a class action that claimed Facebook collected and stored the biometric data of Facebook users in Illinois without the proper notice and consent in violation of Illinois law as part of its “Tag Suggestions” feature and other features involving facial recognition technology. Facebook denies it ...
How much are Facebook settlement checks?
Barring any further appeals, $397 settlement checks will go out within the next 60 days to nearly 1.6 million users in Illinois who submitted claims.
Did Facebook send checks?
According to recent updates, the Settlement Administrator began sending out checks to recipients on May 9, 2022, and it will take two weeks to send out the entirety of the checks either via mail or electronic payments.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
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?
What did the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association drop?
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association said it dropped a rule that limited competition among its member insurers, moving to implement a key aspect of an antitrust settlement the companies reached last year with customers.
When will BCBSOK be available in 2021?
This means BCBSOK members will still have in-network access to Saint Francis locations, clinics, and physicians until July 29, 2021. This is expected to impact about 59,000 subscriber households.
What is the law360 order?
Law360 (July 9, 2021, 9:59 AM EDT) — President Joe Biden on Friday issued an expansive executive order aimed at boosting competition across the U.S. economy and lowering prices for consumers and increasing pay for workers.
Why did Biden order merger enforcers?
With an eye toward halting consolidation that Biden said has led to higher prices and lost jobs, the president ordered merger enforcers to challenge deals that not only are likely to raise prices for consumers but also may harm labor, agricultural and health care markets and hinder new business formation.
When will Saint Francis leave BCBSOK?
BCBSOK is currently in a 90-day transition period to allow members time to make decisions about their future care, as Saint Francis will leave BCBSOK networks on July 29th.
When did Dignity Health and Anthem end?
After Dignity Health issued a contract termination notice in January, the health system and Anthem have ended their relationship as of July 16.
Is Independence Blue Cross profitable?
With people nervous about going to the hospital and both elective and non-urgent care greatly reduced, it turns out that 2020 was a very profitable year for Independence Blue Cross.
Introduction
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 m…
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 choice (“Second Blue Bid”). As p…
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 …
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 …
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 e…
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 informatio…
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 allocati…