South Carolina BCBS Antitrust Settlement
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC) holds roughly 65% of the state's commercial market. Each payment is a pro-rata share of the national fund based on the premiums the claimant paid — it does not depend on the state.
How your share is set
Pro rata by premiums
paid 2008–2020 — the same formula in every state
Average per approved claim
About $244
across 7,774,992 claims nationwide
Shares of $200 or more
About 90% now
10% held for a later distribution
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina (BCBSSC) — the state's largest and most dominant commercial health insurer — was a defendant in the $2.67 billion BCBS antitrust class action settlement. BCBSSC controls roughly 65% of the commercial market and was historically the dominant ACA marketplace carrier in most South Carolina counties.
If you held a fully insured BCBSSC plan between February 7, 2008 and October 16, 2020, or a self-funded plan between September 1, 2015 and October 16, 2020, you may be eligible for a pro-rata payment from the settlement fund. Distributions began May 11, 2026.
How South Carolina Payments Are Calculated
Where you live does not change how your payment is calculated. The court-approved plan pays claimants in South Carolina exactly as it pays everyone else: your share is your “Recognized Claim” — built from the premiums (for self-funded accounts, the administrative fees) the Blue plan's records show you paid during the class period — divided by everyone's, multiplied by the net fund. The settlement publishes no state rankings, market-share weights or state payout ranges; dollar ranges quoted for individual states are estimates, not official figures.
The money is split into two pots that are paid separately: $1.78 billion for individuals, insured groups and their employees, and $120 million for self-funded accounts and their employees. Divided across the 7,774,992 claims the court approved, the average is about $244 a claim. As a rough rule of thumb (our arithmetic, not an official rate), the individual and insured-group pot pays about 54 cents per $100 of premiums: $10,000 in premiums works out to about $54, and $60,000 to about $325.
Under the court's April 24, 2026 order, shares under $200 are paid in full in the first distribution, which began May 11, 2026. Shares of $200 or more receive about 90% now, with 10% of the fund held in reserve for a later distribution. Any claimant whose share calculates to $5.00 or less receives nothing.
Estimate Your BCBS Payment From Your Premiums
Shares are pro rata by the premiums you paid from 2008 to 2020 — the same formula in every state.
Rough share for $60,000 in premiums
About $324
$200 or more, so about $292 (90%) comes in the initial distribution. A second distribution may follow, only for people who cashed the first payment; as of October 2026 no date has been announced.
Our arithmetic, not an official rate: the eligible claims in the individual and insured-group fund reported about $328 billion in premiums against a $1.78 billion fund — about 54 cents per $100. Your actual payment is calculated by JND Legal Administration from the Blue plans’ records. Payments began May 11, 2026; the claim deadline (November 5, 2021) has passed.
About BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Founded in 1946, BCBSSC is an independent, SC-owned and operated nonprofit insurer — not affiliated with any other BCBS parent company. It is the only BCBS licensee headquartered in South Carolina.
Beyond state coverage, BCBSSC serves as the national administrator of the Federal Employee Program (FEP), processing claims for federal employees and retirees across all 50 states. Note: while BCBSSC administers FEP nationally, FEP enrollees are excluded from this subscriber settlement fund.
How SC Claimants Are Notified
Payments to South Carolina claimants come from the same national fund as everyone else's, under the court's April 24, 2026 distribution order (the settlement itself received final approval on August 9, 2022). The administrator, JND Legal Administration, began the initial distribution on May 11, 2026 and sends payments in batches by the method chosen on the claim — for example a prepaid card, with an activation email from distribution@bcbssettlement.com, or a mailed check. No state or regional schedule has been published, and the settlement reports no claim counts or amounts by state.
Only claimants who filed by the November 5, 2021 deadline are paid; no new claims are accepted. Shares of $5.00 or less receive nothing, shares under $200 are paid in full, and shares of $200 or more receive about 90% now, with 10% of the fund held for a second distribution that has no date yet. Checks are void if not cashed within 90 days. To see where your claim stands, use “Check my Claim Status” on bcbssettlement.com with your Unique ID or Claim Number, or call (888) 681-1142.
Exclusions That Apply in South Carolina
- Government accounts are excluded: coverage bought by the State of South Carolina, its counties and cities, tribes or the federal government — whether the plan was self-funded or fully insured. That includes the State of South Carolina's own employee health plan.
- Federal Employee Program (FEP) coverage is excluded as a federal government account.
- Quasi-government accounts are included if they chose their own fully insured or self-funded Blue plan — for example school districts, utilities, port and transportation authorities, government-funded hospitals and public retiree benefit plans. The administrator decides individual cases: (888) 681-1142.
- Self-funded employer plans are not excluded: they and their employees share a separate $120 million fund, for coverage from September 1, 2015 to October 16, 2020.
- Medicare Advantage policies are not part of the settlement; Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies are, if the coverage dates fit.
- Dependents and beneficiaries, including minors on a parent's plan, are not paid; the subscriber or employee who paid the premium is.
- Coverage from insurers outside the Blue system does not count.
Source: the official settlement FAQ at bcbssettlement.com (questions 7–9 and 12).
South Carolina BCBS Settlement — Frequently Asked Questions
I had BCBSSC through my employer — am I eligible?
It depends on your plan type. If your employer fully insured your health plan through BCBSSC (the employer paid premiums to BCBSSC), you are likely eligible for the fully insured fund. If your employer self-funded and BCBSSC only administered claims, you may be eligible for the self-funded fund (class period: Sep 1, 2015 – Oct 16, 2020). Government-employer plans are excluded.
Is the PEBA State Health Plan excluded?
Yes. The South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) State Health Plan covers SC state employees, teachers, and public school staff. Because PEBA is a government entity, all PEBA plan enrollees are excluded from the settlement. This is one of the most significant exclusions for South Carolina residents given how many SC workers are state or school district employees.
BCBSSC runs the Federal Employee Program — does that make FEP enrollees eligible?
No. BCBSSC administers the FEP nationally, but FEP enrollees are explicitly excluded from the subscriber settlement fund. The fact that BCBSSC is the FEP administrator does not create eligibility. FEP coverage was negotiated separately and falls outside the antitrust class.
What are the estimated payout amounts for SC residents?
Payouts are pro-rata based on premiums paid. No South Carolina-specific amounts have been published. As a rough guide (our arithmetic, not an official rate), the individual and insured-group pot pays about 54 cents per $100 of premiums: $10,000 in premiums works out to about $54, and $60,000 to about $325. Shares under $200 are paid in full in the first distribution; shares of $200 or more receive about 90% now, with the rest held for a later round. Any claimant whose share calculates to $5.00 or less receives nothing.
When will South Carolina claimants receive payment?
The settlement fund began distributions on May 11, 2026. SC claimants who filed valid claims by the deadline are paid by the method chosen on the claim, for example a prepaid card (activation email from distribution@bcbssettlement.com) or a mailed check. No state or regional schedule has been published; claimants can check status at BCBSsettlement.com or contact JND Legal Administration. For claim status contact JND Legal Administration at (888) 681-1142.
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