BCBS Settlement Colorado — Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Payout Guide

Colorado's BCBS licensee is Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado, operated by Elevance Health, Inc. According to Kaiser Family Foundation data, Anthem held approximately 32% of Colorado's individual health insurance market as of the most recent reporting period — the largest single insurer in the state, but competing against meaningful rivals including Kaiser Permanente (~24%), Cigna (~20%), and UnitedHealthcare.

Colorado residents who held fully-insured individual or group coverage through Anthem BCBS of Colorado between February 7, 2008 and October 16, 2020, and who filed a valid claim by November 5, 2021, are eligible for the initial distribution beginning May 11, 2026.

Colorado's health insurance market was genuinely competitive — Kaiser Permanente is one of the strongest regional carriers in the country and held roughly 24% of the Colorado market, while Cigna and UnitedHealthcare also maintained substantial commercial footprints. This competitive environment significantly limits the antitrust harm argument relative to near-monopoly states.

The sole BCBS licensee in Colorado is Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Colorado, operated by Elevance Health Inc. (formerly Anthem Inc., and before that, WellPoint Inc.). The corporate name changed from Anthem Inc. to Elevance Health in June 2022, but coverage continues to be sold and administered under the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand in Colorado.

Anthem BCBS Colorado operates a network of over 9,700 providers and 70 hospitals across the state and offers PPO, HMO, and individual ACA marketplace plans in all Colorado counties. Coverage issued under any Anthem BCBS Colorado fully-insured commercial plan during 2008–2020 qualifies for the settlement.

Colorado claimants are included in the initial 2026 distribution wave.

Local Colorado media coverage of the 2026 distributions: Denver Post and Colorado Sun have reported on the national $2.67B settlement distribution beginning in May 2026.

• PERA (Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association) health plans — PERA covers state employees, teachers, judges, and employees of 400+ affiliated agencies and universities through a self-funded arrangement. Government accounts are excluded from the Subscriber settlement.
• Colorado State Employees health plans (CDHPF) — Direct state employee and retiree plans through the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration are government-funded self-insured accounts, excluded.
• CU Health Plan and University of Colorado System employee plans — Self-funded; excluded as government accounts.
• Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) — Medicaid managed care, including any Anthem-administered Medicaid products, is excluded.
• Kaiser Permanente Colorado, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna — These are not BCBS plans and are not party to this antitrust settlement.
• Anthem Medicare Advantage Colorado — Medicare Advantage plans are excluded. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies through Anthem BCBS Colorado may partially qualify.
• Federal Employee Program (FEP) BCBS — Separate carve-out excluded from the Subscriber settlement.