Blue Cross Blue Shield $2.67B Settlement, Eligibility, Payments & Status

Quick Facts

• Lawsuit type: Consumer and provider antitrust class action settlement
• Defendant: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and member Blue Plans
• Case name: In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 2406 (N.D. Ala.)
• Status: Both settlements finally approved — payments distributing now and in May 2026
• Subscriber settlement amount: $2.67 billion (final)
• Provider settlement amount: $2.8 billion (final)
• Who may be affected: Individuals and employers who purchased or were enrolled in a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan between February 7, 2008, and October 16, 2020 (subscribers), or healthcare providers who treated BCBS-insured patients between July 24, 2008, and October 4, 2024 (providers)
• Subscriber claim deadline: November 5, 2021 — closed
• Provider claim deadline: July 29, 2025 — closed
• Initial subscriber payments begin: May 2026
• Official subscriber settlement website: www.BCBSSettlement.com
• Official provider settlement website: www.BCBSProviderSettlement.com

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member Blue Plans agreed to pay a combined total of more than $5.4 billion to resolve antitrust class action lawsuits alleging they illegally divided U.S. markets and suppressed competition in health insurance. The subscriber settlement totals $2.67 billion, and a separate provider settlement totals $2.8 billion. Both settlements are now final. Both claim deadlines have passed. The initial distribution of payments to subscriber claimants with valid claims will begin in May 2026.

What Is the Lawsuit About?

Plaintiffs alleged that Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and its member plans violated antitrust laws by entering into an agreement not to compete and to limit competition among themselves in selling health insurance and administrative services for health insurance.

Specifically, the complaint alleged that BCBSA member plans divided the United States into geographic “Service Areas” and agreed not to compete in each other’s territories. The plaintiffs argued that this arrangement — known as the Blue License Rules — reduced competition for health insurance, which in turn allowed the Blue Plans to charge subscribers higher premiums and pay healthcare providers lower reimbursement rates than they would have received in a competitive market.

The class action lawsuit, In re: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation, addresses Provider Plaintiffs’ claim that the Settling Defendants violated antitrust laws by illegally dividing the United States into “Service Areas” and agreeing not to compete in those areas. The subscriber portion of the same litigation raised identical claims on behalf of the millions of individuals, families, and employers who paid BCBS premiums.

There are two separate but related settlements in this case. Understanding which one applies to you is important.

The Two Settlements: Subscribers vs. Providers

Settlement 1: Subscriber Settlement ($2.67 billion)

This settlement applies to individuals and employers — people who paid BCBS health insurance premiums. This settlement was reached on behalf of individuals and businesses that purchased or received health insurance provided or administered by a Blue Cross Blue Shield company. The subscriber claim deadline was November 5, 2021. If you did not file a claim by that date, you are not eligible to receive a payment from this fund.

Settlement 2: Provider Settlement ($2.8 billion)

This settlement applies to healthcare providers — doctors, hospitals, nurses, medical professionals, and other entities that treated patients insured by a Blue Plan. The settlement class includes all U.S. providers who currently provide or provided health care services to any patient who was insured by any plan administered by BCBS companies from July 24, 2008, to October 4, 2024. The provider claim deadline was July 29, 2025. The claim submission deadline for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Provider Settlement has passed. The Settlement Administrator is no longer accepting new claims or changes to existing claims absent a showing of good cause.

Is This a Class Action Lawsuit?

Yes. The Court certified two Settlement Classes in this case — a Damages Class and an Injunctive Relief Class. The Damages Class includes members who paid premiums or received healthcare reimbursement from BCBS during the class period and who submitted valid claims. The Injunctive Relief Class is broader and includes all current BCBS subscribers — even those who did not file a claim — because the business practice changes negotiated as part of the settlement apply to them going forward.

Settling Defendants will also agree to make changes in the way they do business that will increase the opportunities for competition in the market for health insurance. These structural changes are part of the settlement and benefit BCBS subscribers even if they did not file a monetary claim.

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Legal Claims

The core legal claims in this case were brought under federal antitrust law — specifically, the Sherman Antitrust Act. Here is what that means in plain terms:

Market allocation (territory-splitting): Plaintiffs alleged that BCBS plans agreed to stay out of each other’s geographic markets. Under antitrust law, competitors are generally prohibited from agreeing to divide markets between themselves, because that type of arrangement reduces competition and can result in higher prices for consumers.

Price-fixing (for providers): Provider plaintiffs additionally alleged that BCBS plans coordinated to set artificially low reimbursement rates for healthcare services. When insurers collectively suppress what they pay doctors and hospitals, providers have less leverage to negotiate fair compensation.

The court did not rule that BCBS violated antitrust law. The Court has not decided who is right or wrong. Instead, Plaintiffs and Settling Defendants agreed to a Settlement to avoid the risk and cost of further litigation.

Lawsuit Status

Both settlements are fully final.

Subscriber settlement timeline:

The Court granted final approval of the BCBS class action settlement. On January 26, 2024, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied an appeal affirming the nearly $2.7 billion settlement. On June 24, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court also denied an appeal, officially resolving all appeals.

The settlement is final. The administrator is now reviewing claims and sending claim determination notice emails and postcards to people who filed claims on a rolling basis.

Provider settlement timeline:

The final settlement, adopted on August 18, 2025, means that those who submitted valid claims before the deadline of July 29, 2025, will now receive their portion of the payout. The Settlement Claims Administrator began issuing claim notices on February 16, 2026.

Settlement Details

Subscriber Settlement

Roughly $1.9 billion of the fund will be distributed to subscribers after legal fees and expenses are deducted, with individual amounts varying based on premiums paid and the type of coverage. About 6 million claims were submitted nationwide, and most individuals’ payouts are expected to be modest.

The initial distribution of payments to Damages Class Members with valid claims will begin in May 2026. The settlement administrator is JND Legal Administration. If you filed a claim before November 5, 2021, you may have already received a claim determination notice by email or postcard. The notice shows your reported Total Premiums Paid and/or Total Administrative Fees Paid, which form the basis for calculating your share.

If you received a claim determination notice: You have 30 days from the date the notice was sent to dispute the premium figures shown. After that window closes, your claim moves into the payment queue. You do not need to take any further action to receive your payment.

If you did not file a claim by November 5, 2021: The subscriber claim period is closed. No new claims are being accepted.

How to check your claim status: Visit www.BCBSSettlement.com and log into your claimant account. You can view your claim determination notice and verify your payment details there.

Settlement Administrator contact (Subscribers):

• Website: www.BCBSSettlement.com
• Phone: (888) 681-1142
• Email: [email protected]

Provider Settlement

The $2.8 billion cash settlement — after taking out attorneys’ fees and other expenses — will be distributed between the approximately 3.3 million providers that may be part of the lawsuit. The Settlement Administrator anticipates processing claims and issuing payments in 2026.

The provider claim deadline of July 29, 2025, has passed. Providers who filed claims before that date can log into the portal at www.BCBSProviderSettlement.com to view their claim status and update contact or payment information.

Settlement Administrator contact (Providers):

• Website: www.BCBSProviderSettlement.com
• Phone: (888) 452-3095
• Email: [email protected]

What This Means for Consumers

If you filed a subscriber claim before November 5, 2021, you should watch for a claim determination notice from JND Legal Administration. The notice will arrive by email from [email protected] or by postcard. Each notice shows the claimant’s Total Premiums Paid and/or Total Administrative Fees Paid during the class period — these figures are the basis for calculating your share of the settlement fund.

Your individual payment will depend on the premiums you paid relative to the total premiums paid by all claimants. Payment amounts will vary. If you receive a notice showing premium figures you believe are incorrect, you have 30 days to dispute those figures through the settlement website.

In addition to the monetary settlement, BCBS agreed to operational changes to increase market competition. These business practice reforms apply to all current BCBS subscribers going forward, regardless of whether they filed a claim.

If you believe you were eligible but missed the claim deadline, there is no recourse available through this settlement. You may want to consult a licensed consumer attorney if you believe you have a separate and distinct claim against a Blue Plan that is not covered by this settlement.

Key Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a class action settlement? 

Yes. The Blue Cross Blue Shield antitrust settlement is one of the largest class action settlements in U.S. healthcare history. There are two certified classes: a subscriber class for individuals and employers who paid BCBS premiums, and a provider class for healthcare professionals and facilities that treated BCBS-insured patients.

Has the settlement been approved? 

Yes. Both settlements are finally approved. The Supreme Court denied the final appeal on June 24, 2024, officially resolving all challenges to the subscriber settlement. The provider settlement received final approval on August 18, 2025. Neither settlement can be appealed further.

Who may be eligible for a payment? 

The settlement includes many people who were covered by a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan between February 2008 and October 2020. For the provider settlement, the class includes all U.S. providers who provided healthcare services to any patient insured by any BCBS plan from July 24, 2008, to October 4, 2024. Eligibility for payment now requires that you filed a valid claim before the applicable deadline.

Is a claim form required? 

Both claim deadlines have passed. Subscriber claims were due by November 5, 2021. Provider claims were due by July 29, 2025. If you filed a claim before those deadlines, no additional action is required to receive payment. If you did not file, you are no longer eligible to submit a new claim.

Where is the official settlement website? 

The subscriber settlement website is www.BCBSSettlement.com. The provider settlement website is www.BCBSProviderSettlement.com. Both sites are managed by the court-appointed settlement administrator. Verify all claim information and notices through these official websites only.

When will payments be sent?

 The initial distribution of payments to subscriber Damages Class Members with valid claims will begin in May 2026. Provider payments are also expected in 2026 as claims are processed. Multiple distribution rounds may occur throughout 2026.

I received a claim determination notice — what do I do? 

Review the premium figures shown in the notice carefully. If the figures are correct, you do not need to take any action. If you believe the amounts are incorrect, you have 30 days from the date the notice was sent to submit a dispute through the official settlement website. Log in at www.BCBSSettlement.com to review your notice and submit any corrections.

What if I missed the claim deadline?

 If you did not file a claim by November 5, 2021 (subscribers) or July 29, 2025 (providers), you are generally not eligible to receive a monetary payment from this settlement. The settlement administrator is not accepting new claims. You may want to contact a licensed consumer or healthcare attorney to understand whether any separate legal options are available to you.

If You Have Questions About This Settlement

For official information and claim status updates:

• Subscriber settlement: www.BCBSSettlement.com | (888) 681-1142
• Provider settlement: www.BCBSProviderSettlement.com | (888) 452-3095
• Court records: U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama — Case No. 2:13-cv-20000-RDP

If you believe you have a separate health insurance dispute not covered by this settlement, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (hhs.gov) and your state insurance commissioner can provide guidance on available consumer protections.

Last Updated: February 28, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney. Always verify eligibility and deadlines on official settlement websites before filing a claim.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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