Overview
Pendley, Baudin & Coffin attorneys were part of the legal team representing subscribers and policyholders in a nationwide antitrust class action against Blue Cross Blue Shield entities. The case alleged that BCBS insurers violated antitrust law by dividing the country into exclusive service territories and agreeing not to compete with one another, driving up premiums and limiting choice for millions of policyholders.
The Settlement
The litigation resulted in a $2.67 billion settlement fund — final approval was granted by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on August 9, 2022. The settlement was affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in October 2023, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear further challenges, closing out the case
Beyond the monetary recovery, the settlement required Blue Cross Blue Shield to make structural changes to how it competes in the health insurance market, aimed at increasing competition and consumer choice going forward.