You May Be Getting a Check from Blue Cross Blue Shield This Month After a Decade-Long Legal Battle

More than five years after receiving final court approval, a massive $2.67 billion antitrust class-action settlement involving Blue Cross Blue Shield is finally in its payout phase.

Simply put, if you were a customer of the insurance company more than a decade ago, you may be getting a check this month.

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What Was the Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Lawsuit About?

A class action lawsuit was filed in 2013 against more than 35 Blue Cross Blue Shield plans alleging the company violated antitrust laws by limiting market competition. The suit states that those practices increased premiums and reduced options for customers.

BCBS denied all allegations of wrongdoing and asserted that their conduct resulted in lower costs and greater access to care for their customers. The court didn't decide who was wrong or right. Instead, the plaintiffs and settling defendants agreed to a settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation.

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“This settlement ends a long-running legal challenge to the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association license agreements and related rules,” a company spokesperson said in a 2024 statement after reaching the agreement. “We deny the allegations made in the lawsuit. However, to reach a settlement and put years of litigation behind us, we have agreed to make some operational changes and a monetary payment to the provider class involved in the case.”

What Happened to the $2.67 Billion Settlement Fund?

The settlement amount reached $2.67 billion. The total settlement fund, though, was reduced to roughly $1.9 billion after legal fees and administrative fees were deducted.

How Much Will BCBS Settlement Claimants Receive?

To receive a payment, eligible customers had to file a claim by November 5, 2021. There were about six million claims filed by the deadline, and the payments are expected to be between $300 and $333 per valid claim.

When Are BCBS Settlement Checks Being Mailed?

Checks are reportedly being sent out during the month of May. Those who filed valid claims by the deadline should watch for payments arriving by mail throughout the month.