Premera Blue Cross Security Incident Class Action Settlement

A $74 million settlement will provide consumers with credit monitoring or a cash award if their information was compromised in a cyberattack on Premera Blue Cross’s computer network that began in May 2014.

Premera disclosed to the public that their systems had been hacked on March 17, 2015 and millions of consumers were provided a notice that their information had been accessed in the breach.

Dozens of lawsuits were filed after the security breach and were consolidated into a single Premera Blue Cross security incident class action lawsuit in June 2015.

According to the plaintiffs, the health care company failed to properly protect their sensitive personal information from hackers.

Data accessed in the breach allegedly included “names, dates of birth, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, member identification numbers, medical claims information, financial information, and other protected health information.”

According to the security indecent class action lawsuit, Premera is a major healthcare benefit company in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It reportedly collects personal information about millions of patients and assures those submitting the information to access healthcare services that their information will be protected

Further, the company collects sensitive health information, subject to additional protection under a federal law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), alleged the plaintiffs.

According to the Premera Blue Cross security incident class action lawsuit, the sensitive personal and medical information of approximately 11 million were compromised in the data breach.

For its part, Premera admits no wrongdoing, but has agreed to pay $74 million to settle the class action allegations.

Under the terms of the settlement, Premera will pay $32 million to Class Members who can claim free credit monitoring services and a $50 default payment. Class Members in California are entitled to an additional $50 payment.

Alternatively, Class Members can claim free credit monitoring and actual out-of-pocket losses up to $10,000.

Premera has also agreed spend $42 million to improve its security measures, including archiving of old data, use of encryption, increased monitoring, using stronger passwords, and implementing a security operations center that will be available at all hours.

According to the Premera security incident class action settlement website, Class Members must submit a Claim Form online or by mail. Class Members who wish to make a claim for credit monitoring services must return the Claim Form. Those who would like a cash payment of up to $50 instead, must submit a Claim Form and also verify that they are not seeking any reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to the alleged data breach.

Class Members who wish to make a claim for out-of-pocket expenses up to $10,000 for loses related to the alleged Premera Blue Cross security incident must submit a Claim Form along with documentation related to those expenses, including receipts, invoices, etc.

Class Members can also claim $20 per hour for time spent dealing with issues arising from the security breach, up to $400 with proof or up to $100 without proof. Settlement payouts are capped at $10,000.

The deadline to opt out of or object to the Premera security incident class action settlement is Jan. 29, 2020.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include those “in the United States whose Personal Information was stored on Premera’s computer network systems that was compromised in the Security Incident as publicly disclosed on [Mar. 17, 2015].”

Potential Award

Up to $10,000.

Claims may include the following:

• Free credit monitoring and $50
• Free credit monitoring and out-of-pocket expenses (up to $10,000)
• California Class Members can claim an additional cash payment of $50
• Up to 20 hours of time spent on dealing with the security incident at $20 per hour

Proof of Purchase

A claim ID number, found on the settlement notice, is required for all claims.

Claims for out-of-pocket expenses or other losses require proof, including receipts, invoices, bank statements, etc.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

3/30/2020

Case Name

In re: Premera Blue Cross Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, Case No. 3:15-md-2633, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Final Hearing

3/2/2020

UPDATE: The Premera Blue Cross Security Incident Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on March 2, 2020. Please note that claims will not be paid until after the claim deadline passes. Class members and claimants should contact the settlement administrator with any questions. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more. 

Settlement Website

www.PremeraSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Premera Settlement Administrator
c/o Epiq
P.O. Box 3607
Portland, OR 97208-3607
1-877-202-7335

Class Counsel

Kim D. Stephens
TOUSLEY BRAIN STEPHENS PLLC

James Pizzirusso
HAUSFELD LLP

Tina Wolfson
AHDOOT & WOLFSON PC

Karen Hanson Reibel
LOCKRIDGE GRINDAL & NAUEN PLLP

Keith Dubanevich
STOLL BERNE

Defense Counsel

Paul G. Karlsgodt
BAKER & HOSTETLER

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