Almost six years later, checks from a $2.67 billion settlement fund associated to Blue Cross Blue Defend medical health insurance will likely be distributed to affected subscribers in 2026.
In October 2020, Blue Cross Blue Defend reached a $2.67 billion settlement in an antitrust class motion lawsuit; a choose gave his remaining approval of the settlement in August 2025.
The settlement stemmed from a category motion antitrust lawsuit filed in Alabama underneath the title “Blue Cross Blue Defend Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406, N.D. Ala. Grasp File No. 2:13-cv-20000-RDP.”
This settlement, ensuing from an antitrust class motion lawsuit, was reached on behalf of people and companies that bought or obtained medical health insurance offered or administered by a Blue Cross Blue Defend firm. The Group Representatives (“Plaintiffs”) entered right into a Settlement Settlement on October 16, 2020, with Blue Cross Blue Defend Affiliation (“BCBSA”) and Blue Particular person Plans in Settlement. BCBSA and Blue Particular person Plans in Settlement are known as “Settlement Defendants.”
The Plaintiffs allege that the Settlement Defendants violated antitrust legal guidelines by agreeing to not compete with one another and to restrict competitors between them within the sale of medical health insurance and medical health insurance administration providers. The Settlement Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing and assert that their conduct leads to decrease well being care prices and higher entry to care for his or her clients. The Courtroom has not but decided who is correct or improper. As an alternative, the Plaintiffs and the Settlement Defendants have agreed to a settlement to keep away from the chance and value of additional litigation.
The Settlement Settlement will set up a Settlement Fund of $2.67 billion. The Defendants who signal the Settlement may also comply with implement adjustments of their operations that, in response to the Plaintiffs, will improve alternatives for competitors within the medical health insurance market.
There are two lessons of settlements, together with a Damages Class and an Injunctive Class. Those that might obtain funds embody people who obtained protection underneath any Blue Cross Blue Defend medical health insurance or administrative providers plan between February 2008 and October 2020.
Click on right here for extra details about the settlement.
Underneath the phrases of the settlement, roughly $1.9 billion will likely be allotted to reimbursements for subscribers who filed claims. The remaining $700 million will go to the attorneys for the case.
To obtain fee, you will need to have filed a declare earlier than November 5, 2021.
