- Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement payments are now going out to some approved claimants.
- Electronic notices may arrive from distribution@bcbssettlement.com.
- Some consumers are receiving virtual debit cards, while others may get checks or other payment methods.
- If you filed years ago, check spam, “Updates,” and old email accounts for your payment notice.
- Be cautious of copycat scam emails and use the official settlement website when in doubt.
It’s been about five years since word came down the pike that a settlement had been reached in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation and a $2.67 billion Settlement Fund was established.
Consumers who purchased or were enrolled in certain Blue Cross or Blue Shield plans between 2008 and 2020 should have received a settlement notice around mid-2021 informing them they might qualify for a share of the $2.67 billion agreement.
The email that we saw from that time looked like this:
Those payments began going out last week.
We're not sure about those receiving mailed payments, but consumers getting electronic payments should have — or soon will — receive an email from distribution[at]bcbssettlement.com explaining how much you will receive and how to process your claim to receive a "virtual [debit] card" in that amount.
Some recipients are receiving payments through virtual prepaid/debit cards sent electronically, while others may receive checks or other payment methods depending on what they selected during the claims process.
How much will you receive?
Individual payouts vary widely depending on how long someone was covered and the premiums they paid. After legal fees and the large number of approved claims, many recipients may receive relatively modest payments.
Why some people may miss the notice
Depending on how your e-mail is set up, these notices may have gone into your "Updates" or another folder and not into your "main" inbox.
If you did apply for this settlement and don't think you've received your notice, check all your inboxes, spam folders, etc., and do a search for "Blue Cross Blue Shield Subscribers Settlement Payment" in your email search box.
If you filed a claim years ago and changed your email address or mailing address since then, your payment notification may have been delayed or sent to an old account.
Questions? The settlement website lists contact information where consumers should be able to get their questions answered.
Beware of scams
The legitimate payment emails we reviewed came from distribution[at]bcbssettlement.com. Still, consumers should be cautious about copycat scam emails.
Don’t click unfamiliar links or provide banking information unless you’re certain the message is legitimate. When in doubt, go directly to the official settlement website rather than using links inside the email.
Bottom line
If you remember filing a Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement claim years ago but haven’t seen anything yet, don’t panic. Payments are being distributed in phases, and many notices are landing outside primary inbox folders.
