Hello, I wanted to inform you of something that could pay you if you’re a Bay Area resident or worker and you paid for medical insurance between 2011 and 2021. There’s a $228.5 million class-action lawsuit against Sutter Health, and thousands of people may get cash payouts. If you qualify, this could be your chance to get paid. Here’s what you should know.
What’s this settlement all about?
A large Sacramento-based hospital system, Sutter Health, has been accused of employing “anticompetitive” and discriminatory contract terms that inflated insurance prices in Northern California. A lawsuit alleged these practices saw people and businesses pay exorbitant amounts of money for medical insurance over a decade, between 2011 and 2021.
Sutter Health has not admitted to any wrongdoing but has paid out $228.5 million and restructured how it operates in order to avoid future lawsuits.
And now, some of that money is getting refunded to folks like you.
Who is eligible to file a claim?
Not everyone in California will be eligible, but if you lived, worked, or had a business in a Bay Area county when you bought coverage, you might be the lucky one:
- Alameda
- Contra Costa
- Marin
- Napa
- San Francisco
- San Mateo
- Solano
- Sonoma
You paid health insurance premiums to one of the insurers listed below from January 1, 2011, through March 8, 2021:
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Health Net
- United Healthcare
You also never should have waived the case in the first instance.
How to file a claim
If you qualify, then submitting a claim next is what you do next. It is extremely simple: go to the official claims website for the Sutter Health premium settlement and submit the claim form.
Due date for filing is September 12, 2025. That’s in the future, but it’s easier to do this now than to forget and have to do it later.
When will you get paid?
To date, the settlement has been conditionally approved by the Northern District Court of California. The final approval hearing date is November 6, 2025. Therefore, no checks will be sent until after the settlement is finalized and all appeals are addressed.
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How much will you get?
That has not been determined yet. All of the $228.5 million will go to rightful claimants, but some will be used for legal and administrative charges. So, whereas there isn’t a specific amount, it’s worth it if you happen to qualify.
Bottom line
If you purchased health insurance in the Bay Area from 2011-2021, don’t miss this. You may be owed a refund. Simply file your claim by September 12, 2025, and see what happens next after final court approval is given.
Let me know if you’d prefer assistance checking your eligibility. This is one of those times where filling out some forms could really pay off.
