Blue Cross Settlement ?

[vic120]

I saw a thread a few days ago but I can't find it by search now I also have a client asking me about this they have a BC Med Supp In NY got the letter but I don't understand this

It is about the blue cross 1.9 billion dollar settlement on class action suit saying to submit a valid claim but does not explain much

 

[LostDollar]

From notification card:

Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. BOX 91390
Seattle, WA 98111

You must submit a valid claim online at www.BCBSsettlement.com or postmarked by mail no later than November 5, 2021. Claim Forms are available at www.BCBSsettlement.com or may be requested by calling (888) 681-1142.

Questions?
Call (888) 681-1142
or
Visit www.BCBSsettlement.com

There is also an email address shown for questions:

info at BCBSsettlement dot com

 

[vic120]

From notification card:

Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. BOX 91390
Seattle, WA 98111

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."

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.

If approved by the Court, the Settlement will establish a $2.67 billion Settlement Fund. Settling Defendants will also agree to make changes in the way they do business that Plaintiffs believe will increase the opportunities for competition in the market for health insurance.

what does this even mean? What no-compete I have sold BC as well as other carriers I never heard of noncompete

do all BC policyholders have the right to settlement or some based on some criteria what criteria?

Does not explain much I have read that before but don't get it

Just want to be able to explain a little but to cients

 

[LostDollar]

Have to go to the website, look at claim forms, email info address.

I have not had time to do these things yet.

 

[vic120]

Have to go to the website, look at claim forms, email info address.

I have not had time to do these things yet.

So basically you know as much as I do and have no real insight

I will tell them I know nothing and for them to call If I cant get insight by the end of the day

I am not saying for you to track a thing down at all Just saying if someone has some real info I would appreciate it if not No problem that is the way I will deal with it

 

[Northeast Agent]

I posted it last Friday and applied for it myself. No idea how much $ we'll get, probably just a few dollars.

https://insurance-forums.com/community/threads/blue-cross-blue-shield-settlement-notice.105391/

 

[LostDollar]

So basically you know as much as I do and have no real insight

I will tell them I know nothing and for them to call If I cant get insight by the end of the day

I am not saying for you to track a thing down at all Just saying if someone has some real info I would appreciate it if not No problem that is the way I will deal with it

This is a very complex issue and there is no way I am going to be having the time to deal with it by the end of the day. That is why I posted the basic information from the card I received, including contact information.

In my opinion, you don't want to get involved in dealing with this, or doing this, for your clients. Just send them to the website and let them file their claim. There is an 11 page form with instructions there.

If one needs to file a claim, finding the records is going to be the challenge.

If you have had multiple BCBS coverages over the time periods involved, that is where it is going to get messy.

I can see:
People having multiple BC plans through one employer (employers that swap coverage between carriers every year or two).

People having BC employer and ACA plans.

People having BC plans from multiple state BC entities.

And there will be many more combinations which I cannot think of.

The easy way would be to just file a claim form without any multiple employer coverage information and take what the attorneys have in their files.

 

[LostDollar]

I posted it last Friday and applied for it myself. No idea how much $ we'll get, probably just a few dollars.

https://insurance-forums.com/community/threads/blue-cross-blue-shield-settlement-notice.105391/

My son suggested, that with luck, there would be enough for a kid's meal.

 

[LostDollar]

Two additional pieces of information that reduced the complexity of this claim filing, at least for me:

The notification card--- under who is affected ---- Settlement period for Individuals and Insured Groups -- says:

Dependents, beneficiaries (including minors), and non-employees are NOT eligible to receive payment.

This settled my question about my wife and I including times when we were dependents on the other's coverage.

My MyMedicare account shows my prior health coverage from the time I turned 65 until I actually went on Medicare. I can scan that quickly and see when I had BCBSKS coverage for which I was the primary purchaser.

The MyMedicare account should also show your Medicare Supplement history-mine does anyway. So if you had BCBS Medigap coverage, you should be able to see when you had it on the listing in the MyMedicare account. Based on looking at my record I would just advise caution in looking at termination dates-mine currently shows two active plans.

(As it happens, for me, the MyMedicare account information works well because it covers most of the time period covered by the lawsuit. This will not help everyone, but it may be helpful to some.)

Since the card speaks to health insurance, I would not expect to be able to include any BCBS PDP or Dental coverage in the claim.

 

[Millwood]

$5.00. Minumum. Why bother. I want the 700 million the attorneys are getting . Way to many policyholders to divide it between. If an employer was involved they get piece of the oie as well.