Kroger Savings Club Settlement ($17 Million): Claims Open, Approval Still Pending
If you filled an insured prescription at Kroger since December 2018, you may be in this class. Claims are open until December 21, 2026 — but the court has only granted preliminary approval, and the fairness hearing is not until January 11, 2027.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Case Alleges
The lawsuit alleges that Kroger offered discounted generic-drug prices through its Kroger Savings Club program, but did not report those discounted prices as its “usual and customary” price when billing insurers. Because insurance copays are frequently calculated against the usual-and-customary price, the plaintiffs allege that insured customers ended up paying more out of pocket than uninsured customers paying the club price for the same drug. Kroger denies the allegations; the $17,000,000 settlement resolves the case without any admission of wrongdoing.
Case Details
Kirkbride et al. v. The Kroger Co., No. 2:21-cv-00022, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Settlement fund: $17,000,000. Administrator: Angeion Group, official site krogersavingsclubsettlement.com. Preliminary approval was granted June 8, 2026; the final approval (fairness) hearing is scheduled for January 11, 2027 at 10:00 a.m. EST in Columbus, Ohio.
Current Status — Verified August 22, 2026
Who Is in the Class
Anyone who, between December 9, 2018 and August 23, 2026, used insurance to pay — in whole or in part — for at least one prescription at a Kroger-owned pharmacy. That is a broad window and a broad footprint, since Kroger operates pharmacies under multiple banner names. Key dates: claims close December 21, 2026; the exclusion (opt-out) deadline is October 22, 2026. Note one unresolved point: sources disagree on the objection deadline (October 22, 2026 versus January 11, 2027) — the preliminary approval order controls, and anyone planning to object should verify that date directly with the administrator rather than relying on any summary, including this one.
What This Could Pay
Case Timeline
- 1
December 9, 2018: Class period opens
The start of the window for insured prescriptions filled at Kroger pharmacies that are covered by this settlement.
- 2
January 2021: Suit filed in the Southern District of Ohio
Kirkbride v. The Kroger Co., No. 2:21-cv-00022, is filed before Judge Algenon L. Marbley, alleging that Savings Club prices were not reported as usual-and-customary.
- 3
June 8, 2026: Preliminary approval
The court preliminarily approves the $17 million settlement, which starts the notice and claims process — but is not the final decision.
- 4
October 22, 2026: Exclusion deadline
The last day to opt out and preserve the right to sue Kroger individually over these claims.
- 5
December 21, 2026: Claims deadline
The last day to file. Claims of $8,000 or more need supporting documentation.
- 6
January 11, 2027: Fairness hearing
The court decides whether to grant final approval. Distribution follows only after that — and after any appeal period. This is why no payment is imminent.
Prescription Settlement Scams
Pharmacy-related settlements attract fraud that leans on health details, which feel authoritative when quoted back to you.
“Pay a fee to process your pharmacy claim”
Filing is free through the court-authorized administrator. Any fee request is fraud — there is no expedited lane you can buy.
“We need your prescription and insurance details to verify”
The claim form asks what it needs, and you submit it yourself. Unsolicited callers asking for prescription histories or insurance member IDs are building a profile for medical identity theft.
“Your $500 Kroger settlement payment is approved”
No individual amount has been set — payments are pro rata and cannot be calculated until claims close in December 2026. A specific approved amount today is fiction, and the settlement is not even finally approved.
Kroger Savings Club Settlement FAQs
Is the Kroger settlement approved?
Only preliminarily, as of June 8, 2026. Final approval depends on the fairness hearing set for January 11, 2027. Claims run in the meantime, which is normal — but it means no payments before 2027 at the earliest.
How much will I get?
Unknown, by design. Payments are pro rata from a $17 million fund, based on your covered spending and the total number of valid claims. With a class spanning nearly eight years of insured prescriptions at a national chain, per-person amounts could be modest.
Do I need receipts?
For claims of $8,000 or more, yes — supporting documentation is required. Smaller claims generally do not require it, but keeping whatever pharmacy records you have is sensible in any case.
What is the deadline?
December 21, 2026 for claims. October 22, 2026 to exclude yourself. Sources disagree on the objection deadline — verify that one with the administrator before relying on it.
I filled prescriptions at a store that is not branded Kroger — am I covered?
Kroger operates pharmacies under several banner names, so a differently-branded store can still be Kroger-owned. The administrator can confirm whether a specific pharmacy falls within the class definition.
What does “usual and customary” actually mean here?
It is the price a pharmacy generally charges the public for a drug — the benchmark insurers use to calculate what you owe. The allegation is that discounted Savings Club prices should have been reported as that benchmark, which would have lowered what insured customers paid.
Should I opt out and sue on my own?
For most people that makes little sense — individual prescription overcharges are typically small relative to litigation costs, which is precisely why class actions exist. Opting out only makes sense with unusually large documented losses, and that is a question for an attorney before October 22, 2026.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.