A consortium of lawyers and law firms, including Sommers Schwartz attorney Jason Thompson, secured a $2.67 billion settlement for Blue Cross Blue Shield customers.

The underlying lawsuit, brought on behalf of a large group of insured citizens, alleged that Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield was one of 37 “Blues” plans violating antitrust laws and suppressing competition. The lawyers claimed the Blues explicitly agreed to divide the U.S. into “Service Areas” and then assigned those geographic markets between them, free of competition. They also alleged the companies entered into price-fixing agreements for services rendered by healthcare providers through the Blue Card Program.  Because of their wrongdoing, the Blues denied their customers a choice of insurers, overcharged insurance premiums, and strong-armed participating physicians.