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Potential Payments from Recent Class Action Settlement

A major class action settlement valued at $228.5 million has been proposed, aimed at benefitting individuals who lived or worked in Northern California and contributed to insurance premiums from various health care providers. This settlement arises from the lawsuit Sidibe, et al. v. Sutter Health. It addresses claims that Sutter Health included unfair terms in their contracts with insurers, leading to inflated hospital service costs that ultimately drove up premium prices for consumers.

Background of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit centers on allegations from plaintiffs asserting that Sutter Health violated applicable laws by embedding inequitable conditions in their agreements with health plans. The purported unfair terms compelled certain insurance plans in Northern California to pay excessively for hospital services. These inflated costs imposed a significant financial burden on both individual policyholders and businesses, resulting in soaring premiums.

While Sutter Health counters these claims and denies any wrongdoing, the parties involved agreed to settle to avoid prolonged litigation. The court has not ruled on the merits of the case, rather, the settlement illustrates a resolution that enables affected parties to recoup part of their expenses.

Who is Eligible?

To qualify for potential compensation, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

• - Have paid premiums for a fully-insured health plan from one of the listed insurers, which include Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, or United Healthcare.
• - Have made these premium payments at any point between January 1, 2011, and March 8, 2021.
• - Either resided or worked within the following counties of Northern California: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tuolumne, Yolo, or Yuba.

To determine eligibility and check details, individuals can visit SutterHealthPremiumLawsuit.com.

What Benefits Can You Expect?

Members who file a valid claim by September 12, 2025, may receive a cash payment. The proposed settlement creates a funds pool of $228.5 million from which valid claims will be paid. The total payout will be distributed based on a defined claims process after covering the settlement administration costs and up to a maximum of 33% in attorney fees. Additionally, a predefined amount will be allocated to the plaintiffs who testified during the trial, covering specific reimbursements.

Filing a Claim

Individuals wishing to make a claim must do so online at SutterHealthPremiumLawsuit.com or send a physical claim request to
Sutter Health Premium Overpayment Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91350, Seattle, WA 98111. All claims must be postmarked or submitted online by September 12, 2025. A printed claim form is available at the official website or by calling 1-833-961-3465.

Opt-Out Options and Further Information

Potential class members previously had opportunities to exclude themselves from the group. However, those who did not submit such requests, and did not opt out by the deadline of March 8, 2021, are considered class members and are bound by the settlement terms. They maintain the right to oppose the settlement, if desired, by following guidelines on the official website.

There is a fairness hearing set to take place on November 6, 2025, where the court will evaluate whether the settlement is fair and adequate, alongside approving attorney fees and costs.

Class members can present objections, which must be postmarked before August 28, 2025.
For any inquiries related to the case, individuals can visit SutterHealthPremiumLawsuit.com, email at [email protected], or contact the hotline at 1-833-961-3465.

For additional documentation related to the settlement, legal filings can be accessed via PACER or at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in downtown San Francisco.

This settlement highlights the ongoing dialogue regarding health care costs and insurance practices, attempting to provide some relief to individuals burdened by rising health care premiums.