Millions of Blue Cross Blue Shield Members Are Getting Settlement Checks in May — Here’s How to Know If You’re One of Them

If you had Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance anytime between 2008 and 2020, you may be one of roughly six million Americans with a payment on the way — and it could arrive this month.

The money comes from a $2.67 billion antitrust settlement resolving a class action lawsuit that accused Blue Cross Blue Shield plans of illegally coordinating to divide up markets and limit competition. The allegation was that this arrangement kept premiums higher than they would have been in a truly competitive market. Blue Cross Blue Shield did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement in 2020. After years of processing and legal review, payments are finally going out.

Who Filed a Claim

To receive a payment, you had to file a claim by November 5, 2021 — that window is now closed. But if you submitted a claim before that date and haven’t heard anything, you should check your status at BCBSsettlement.com.

Eligible claimants were people who were covered under a Blue Cross Blue Shield individual or group insurance plan between February 7, 2008, and October 16, 2020. People in self-funded accounts were eligible for a narrower window: September 1, 2015, through October 16, 2020.

How Much Is the Payment

After attorneys’ fees and administrative costs, approximately $1.9 billion remains for distribution to roughly six million claimants. The average payment works out to around $300, though the exact amount for each person depends on:

• How long they were enrolled
• How much they paid in premiums during the covered period
• Whether their plan was fully insured or self-funded

Payments of $5 or less will not be sent — a standard practice for large settlements where administrative costs would outweigh the amount.

How the Money Arrives

Funds will arrive by whichever method was selected when the claim was filed:

• Paper check mailed to address on file
• Prepaid debit card
• PayPal
• Venmo
• Electronic bank deposit

If your address changed since 2021 or your payment method is outdated, visit BCBSsettlement.com to update before a check goes to the wrong place.

What the Original Lawsuit Was About

The lawsuit alleged that Blue Cross Blue Shield plans across the country — which operate as independent regional companies under a shared brand — agreed not to compete with each other in their respective territories. Plaintiffs argued that this coordination meant consumers couldn’t shop across plans and were stuck paying whatever a single insurer in their area charged.

Antitrust law is designed to prevent exactly this kind of coordination among competitors. The case was one of the largest antitrust class actions ever brought on behalf of health insurance consumers.

Frequently Asked Questions