Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies – Class Action Settlement

April 20, 2021

We were recently informed of a class action settlement involving the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies. Postcards have already been sent to impacted members.  As noted in this mailing, if the recipients have further questions those should be directed to JND Legal Administration and not to Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield of California. Below is the communiqué with all the details that was provided by Anthem Blue Cross.

Last October, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies, which includes Anthem Blue Cross, reached a class action settlement with subscribers related to licensing agreements within the Blue Cross and Blue Shield System. While we reject the claims made by the plaintiffs, settling is the right action at this time, so we can focus on continuing to best serve our members.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield System is strong and will continue to provide national leadership with exceptional networks – such as BlueCard® and Blue High Performance NetworkSM, digital tools, and personalized care support. Our commitment to exceptional service levels and dedication to improving access to quality healthcare has never been stronger. That is validated with more people saying they would recommend Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage over any other major health insurer in the U.S.

Through the settlement, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have agreed to make monetary payments to certain groups and individuals and implement eventual changes to the way we operate. The following individuals and groups may be considered a “Damages Class Member” and be eligible to submit a claim for payment:

  • An individual subscriber who purchased health insurance directly from a Blue Cross and Blue Shield company between February 7, 2008 and October 16, 2020;
  • A fully insured group account (including enrolled employees) of a Blue Cross and Blue Shield company between February 7, 2008 and October 16, 2020; or
  • A self-funded group account (including enrolled employees) of a Blue Cross and Blue Shield company between September 1, 2015 and October 16, 2020.

Dependents, beneficiaries, and non-employees are not eligible to receive payment.  Also excluded from payment are government accounts, Medicare accounts of any kind, BCBSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies themselves, including any of their parent or subsidiary entities (and their covered or enrolled current or former employees), the judge presiding over this matter, and any members of his judicial staff, to the extent such staff were covered by a Commercial Health Benefit Product not purchased by a government account during the Settlement Class Period.

This class notice and claims administration process is being managed by the Plaintiffs and their administrator – JND Legal Administration.  Questions about this should be directed to JND Legal Administration not Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield of California: