Blue Cross Blue Shield Settlement: Do You Qualify for a Piece of the $2.67 Billion Payout?

If you’ve ever had health insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), there’s a chance you could be owed a share of the $2.67 billion antitrust settlement. But with deadlines passed and payments on the horizon, how do you know if you’re eligible and when you’ll get paid? Let’s break it down and see where things stand as of February 6, 2025.

What Is the BCBS Settlement About?

This settlement was the result of a massive class-action lawsuit accusing BCBS of violating antitrust laws by limiting competition and artificially inflating insurance prices. To settle the claims, BCBS agreed to pay $2.67 billion and make structural changes to increase competition moving forward.

But for most of us, the big question is: How much money will I get?

Who’s Eligible to Get Paid?

You may be eligible for a settlement payment if:

• You had a fully insured BCBS health insurance plan anytime between February 7, 2008, and October 16, 2020.
• You were part of a self-funded group with BCBS administrative services between September 1, 2015, and October 16, 2020.

What’s NOT included: Dependents, beneficiaries, and non-employees are not eligible for direct payouts. Only policyholders or employers who paid for coverage are eligible.

How Much Money Could You Get?

The Net Settlement Fund—after legal fees and administrative expenses—is about $1.9 billion. Here’s how the money is being divided:

• 93.5% of the fund (around $1.78 billion) will go to people with fully insured health plans.
• 6.5% of the fund (about $120 million) is set aside for self-funded accounts.

How much you receive depends on factors like how long you had BCBS coverage and how much you paid in premiums. Payments will vary, but some claimants are expecting thousands of dollars in compensation.

When Will You Get Paid?

Here’s where things get interesting. The claim submission deadline was November 5, 2021, so if you didn’t file a claim, you’re out of luck. For those who did, here’s what’s next:

The final approval hearing is scheduled for July 16, 2025.
Payments will be distributed after any appeals are resolved and the claims administration process is completed.

If everything goes smoothly, eligible claimants could start seeing checks in late 2025 or early 2026. But legal processes can be unpredictable, so stay patient and stay updated.

Recent Updates as of February 2025

Legal Fees Update: Plaintiffs’ attorneys have requested $754 million in legal fees, which is about 23.47% of the total settlement fund. This request is pending court approval, but it could slightly affect the final payout amounts.
Preliminary Approval Granted: The settlement received preliminary approval in December 2024, marking a major step toward final approval in July 2025.

What Should You Do Now?

If you already filed a claim, you don’t need to do anything but wait for further updates. Make sure your contact information is current with the Claims Administrator so you don’t miss important notifications. You can also visit the official BCBS Settlement website for updates.

If you missed the claim deadline, unfortunately, there’s no way to submit a late claim.