After two and a half years since Blue Cross Blue Shield agreed to settle a $2.67 billion lawsuit with its subscribers, approximately six million individuals may soon receive their payments.

Potentially.

An update on the settlement’s official site has indicated that “claims determination notices are being sent out via email on an ongoing basis.” When I checked my own claim, it stated that it is still “under review.”

There has been no announcement about when all notifications will be dispatched.

This settlement puts an end to legal action that began in 2013, when a class-action antitrust lawsuit was filed against over 35 Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance providers, including Highmark.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association represents a collective of independent, locally run health insurers. Each company operates within its designated areas. For instance, Highmark provides services in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and parts of Ohio and New York.

What prompted the lawsuit against Blue Cross Blue Shield?

The lawsuit alleged that the BC/BS plans had entered into improper agreements, colluding to avoid competition amongst themselves and thereby limiting market competition.

The upcoming fund distribution follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial of an appeal by a settlement class member, David Behenna, who contested the allocation for legal fees and attorney costs, which totaled $667 million, claiming it was excessively high.

Legal representatives for Home Depot also challenged the settlement, arguing that the terms were excessively broad and could impair future private lawsuits against Blue Cross Blue Shield for competitive law violations, according to reports from Reuters.

The Supreme Court’s rejection has now cleared all appeals, as stated on the settlement website.

What amount can you expect from the settlement?

Approximately six million individuals submitted claims by the deadline in November 2021. Consequently, they should anticipate receiving around $333 per claim.

In addition to this recent settlement, Blue Cross Blue Shield has reached another significant agreement promising to pay $2.8 billion to healthcare providers, including hospitals and doctors.

These providers had alleged in a class-action lawsuit filed in 2012 that Blue Cross Blue Shield plans colluded to limit competition among themselves to control the fees paid to hospitals and healthcare professionals.

HERE to HELP: Do you have a consumer inquiry you’d like assistance with? Feel free to contact David Bruce at 870-1736, email him at david.bruce@timesnews.com, or send a letter to 205 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16534.