UPMC Small Group Insurance Class Action Settlement

A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that claims UPMC and Highmark Inc. engaged in an antitrust conspiracy that caused some people and companies in Western Pennsylvania who purchased small group health insurance from Highmark Health Insurance Co. to pay higher premiums.

If you are a group that purchased small group health insurance from Highmark Health Insurance Co. between July 1, 2010 and March 21, 2012, you may be entitled to payment from the UPMC class action settlement.

The UPMC class action lawsuit asserts that UPMC and Highmark engaged in a conspiracy to decrease competition in the markets for health insurance and other health care services in Western Pennsylvania since 2002.

According to the plaintiffs, this anticompetitive behavior prevented other health care and health insurance providers from entering the market, deprived policyholders of alternative sources for small group insurance and resulted in higher premiums for those who purchased small group health insurance.

UPMC denies the claims and maintains it did nothing wrong. However, it has agreed to settle the antitrust class action lawsuit to avoid the expense and uncertainty of ongoing litigation.

Under the terms of the antitrust class action settlement, UPMC will pay $12.5 million to resolve the litigation. NOTE: This class action settlement only resolves claims against UPMC. The litigation is still pending against Highmark.

The UPMC class action settlement received final approval on July 29, 2016. Approximately 10,600 Class Members are eligible for payment from the settlement.

Who’s Eligible

According to the settlement documents: “Your small group is included in the Settlement if it purchased small group health insurance coverage in Western Pennsylvania from, or paid any small group plan premiums (or part of the premiums) to Highmark Health Insurance Co. between July 1, 2010 and March 21, 2012.”

Western Pennsylvania refers to the region of Pennsylvania that includes the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington and Westmoreland.

Potential Award

Up to 4.44 percent of relevant premiums.

The actual amount available for each Class Member will not be determined until all claims have been received.

If all Class Members file a valid claim, each will receive approximately 1.1 percent of the premium they paid to Highmark during the Class Period.

Proof of Purchase

N/A. Class Members should have received notice of the UPMC settlement in the mail.

The notice includes a Claim Form that indicates the amount of premiums you paid during the Class Period. It will also include a Claimant ID number under the barcode on the Claim Form. This Claimant ID number is required to file a claim online.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

1/31/2017

Case Name

Cole’s Wexford Hotel Inc. v. UPMC, et al., Case No. 2:10-cv-01609, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Final Hearing

7/26/2016

Settlement Website

www.WDPASettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Western Pennsylvania Insurance Settlement
Rust Consulting
P.O. Box 2490
Faribault, MN 55021-9190

1-888-764-8860
info@WDPASettlement.com

Class Counsel

DEL SOLE CAVANAUGH STROYD LLC

SCOTT M. HARE, ESQUIRE

STONE LAW FIRM LLC

BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP

STONE & MAGNANINI LLP

Defense Counsel

Rebekah B. Kcehowski
JONES DAY