Some Louisiana residents who were covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield plans could begin receiving payments from a long-running national settlement tied to an antitrust lawsuit.

The $2.67 billion settlement stems from claims that the Blue Cross Blue Shield system limited competition among its member companies. While the case did not result in an admission of wrongdoing, the agreement created a settlement fund to compensate eligible individuals, employees and businesses who were covered under certain plans during the qualifying time period.

For Louisiana, this includes customers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana who met the eligibility requirements and filed a claim before the November 2021 deadline. Those who did not submit a claim will not receive a payment.

After legal fees and administrative costs, the total amount available for distribution is expected to be smaller than the original settlement figure, with payments varying based on factors such as type of coverage and premiums paid. Reports indicate that distributions could begin in 2026.

Officials associated with the settlement have said payments will be issued automatically to approved claimants, with no additional action required.

While the settlement is national in scope, it could impact thousands of policyholders across Louisiana who took part in the claims process several years ago.