Blue Cross Blue Shield Class Action Settlement FAQs
- Never had a BCBS plan? Then, this doesn’t affect you, your company or your plan.
- If you were fully insured with BCBS 2008-2020 or self-funded with BCBS 2015-2020 then you may be able to file a claim for settlement funds.
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.”
Who is eligible to receive payment from the settlement class periods?
You may be eligible to receive payment if you are an Individual, Insured Group 1 (and their employees) or Self-Funded Account 2 (and their employees) that 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.
What is a class member for Blue Cross Blue Shield?
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.
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.
How much should I expect from BCBS settlement?
The exact number of claims was not available on the website but if, say, 1.5 million people filed valid claims, then the average payment would be $12.66. If 150,000 people filed claims, then the average payment would be $126.60.
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 years does the BCBS settlement cover?
It is very difficult to estimate how much any employer or individual might receive as a payment. 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).
Is Blue Cross Blue Shield 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.
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 much are Facebook settlement checks?
In 2021, Facebook agreed to a $650 million settlement to a suit that alleged it broke Illinois' biometric laws by collecting and storing users' physical characteristics without their consent. Nearly 1.6 million Facebook users in the state each received $397 payouts.
Are federal employees eligible for BCBS settlement?
Government Accounts (states, counties, municipalities, unincorporated associations performing municipal functions, Native American tribes, or the federal government) are excluded from the Settlement.
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 ...
What is the net settlement fund?
Net Settlement Fund means the Settlement Fund less: (i) any Taxes; (ii) any Notice and Administration Costs; (iii) any Litigation Expenses awarded by the Court; and (iv) any attorneys' fees awarded by the Court.
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.
Is Jnd legal administration legit?
JND is well-known throughout the legal industry for providing the most responsive, trustworthy, and comprehensive legal administrative service in the country.
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.
What happened to the Facebook settlement in Illinois?
Facebook agreed to pay $650 million to end the litigation, with the money to be split among Illinois Facebook users who filed claims by a certain deadline, minus costs and $97.5 million in attorneys' fees.
What is going on with the Facebook settlement?
The lawsuit — known as "Facebook Internet Tracking Litigation" — accuses Facebook of "improperly obtaining and collecting data" through non-Facebook websites that displayed a Facebook "Like" button. Facebook has denied any wrongdoing, but is still choosing to settle the matter without going to trial.
What is happening with 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.
What is a 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.”. Plaintiffs allege that Settling Defendants violated antitrust laws by entering into an agreement not ...
How do I participate in the Settlement?
To make a claim and receive a payment, you must file a claim form online or by mail postmarked by November 5, 2021. Claims may be submitted online or by mail to:
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. 2:13-cv-20000-RDP (the “Settlement”), was reached on behalf of individuals and companies that purchased or received health insurance provided or administered by a Blue Cross Blue Shield company. 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 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.
Who decides whether to approve a settlement?
The Court in charge of this case still has to decide whether to approve the Settlement. Payments will be made if the Court approves the Settlement and after any appeals are resolved. Please be patient.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
What is the settlement of Blue Cross Blue Shield?
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and settling individual Blue plans have come to a $2.67 billion agreement to settle class actions alleging that Blue Cross Blue Shield companies agreed not to compete with each other and to limit competition among themselves in sales and administration of health insurance. The complaints alleged that the companies violated antitrust laws by their behavior in the US and Puerto Rico.
What does the settlement defendant agree to do?
The settling defendants also agree to make changes in the way they do business, which will benefit Injunctive Class members as well.
Do you need to provide additional data when submitting a claim?
If you accept the Default Option for distribution, you do not need to provide any additional data or evidence when submitting your claim. If you want to request an alternative contribution percentage instead, you must provide data or evidence to support the information you provide in table on page 7 of the Claim Form. See the Claim Form for more information.
