Summary Notice Of Proposed Class Action Settlement In Ferrer, Et. Al. V. Carefirst, Inc., Et. Al., Case 1:16-cv-02162 (D. D.C.)

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Claims Administrator Angeion Group issues the following Summary Notice of Proposed Settlement of Class Action regarding Lindsay Ferrer, Amy Haddad, and Sarah Sorscher, v. CareFirst, Inc., Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., CareFirst of Maryland, Inc., CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc., Case No. 1:16-cv-02162, pending in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

TO: ALL PERSONS WHO ARE OR WERE PARTICIPANTS IN OR BENEFICIARIES OF ANY NON-GRANDFATHERED HEALTH PLAN¹  SOLD, UNDERWRITTEN OR ADMINISTERED BY CAREFIRST, INC., GROUP HOSPITALIZATION AND MEDICAL SERVICES, INC., CAREFIRST OF MARYLAND, INC., AND CAREFIRST BLUECHOICE, INC. (COLLECTIVELY, "CAREFIRST") IN THEIR CAPACITY AS INSURER OR ADMINISTRATOR, WHO DID NOT RECEIVE FULL COVERAGE FOR AND/OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT AND COUNSELING SERVICES ("CLS") RECEIVED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 1, 2012 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2018 (THE "CLASS"). 

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a hearing will be held on April 9, 2019, at 11:30 a.m., before the Honorable Amit P. Mehta, in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Courtroom 10, 4th Floor, 333 Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington D.C., 20001, to determine whether: (1) the proposed settlement as set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement dated as of December 10, 2018 (the "Stipulation") of the above-referenced action (the "Action") should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; and (2) to award Plaintiffs' Counsel attorneys' fees and expenses, and to Plaintiffs a service award.

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CLASS, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT. UNDER THE SETTLEMENT, CLASS MEMBERS WILL RELEASE ALL LEGAL CLAIMS THEY MAY HAVE AGAINST CAREFIRST RELATING TO COVERAGE FOR CLS RECEIVED BETWEEN AUGUST 1, 2012 AND AUGUST 31, 2018.

THIS NOTICE IS JUST A SUMMARY. YOU MUST READ IN FULL THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT. The Notice and Stipulation describe the benefits of the Settlement, including cash payments to Class members for Authorized CLS Claims. If you did not receive a Notice and a Claims Data Form, in order to receive any cash payment in the Settlement you must establish your rights by submitting a Proof of Claim postmarked on or before July 8, 2019.  Your failure to timely submit your Proof of Claim with supporting documentation and any required affirmation that CLS was received, will preclude you from receiving any payment in connection with the Settlement. If you are a Member of the Class and do not request exclusion, you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment and release entered in the Action, whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim.

If you have NOT received a copy of the Notice, which more completely describes the Settlement and your rights thereunder (including your right to object to the Settlement or exclude yourself from the Settlement), and a Claims Data Form or Proof of Claim Form, you may obtain these documents, as well as a copy of the Stipulation (which among other things contains definitions for the defined terms used in this Summary Notice) and other Settlement documents, online at www.CareFirstBreastfeedingSupportClassAction.com, or by calling 1-855-441-2329.

IF YOU DESIRE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE CLASS, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION SUCH THAT IT IS POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN MARCH 11, 2019, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. ALL MEMBERS OF THE CLASS WHO HAVE NOT REQUESTED EXCLUSION FROM THE CLASS WILL BE BOUND BY THE SETTLEMENT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT FILE A TIMELY PROOF OF CLAIM.

IF YOU ARE A CLASS MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT, THE REQUEST BY PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES, AND/OR THE PAYMENT OF SERVICE AWARDS TO PLAINTIFFS. ANY OBJECTIONS MUST BE FILED WITH THE COURT AND SENT TO CLASS COUNSEL AND CAREFIRST'S COUNSEL BY MARCH 11, 2019, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE.

Inquiries should NOT be directed to Defendants, the Court, or the Clerk of the Court. Inquiries may be made to a representative of Class Counsel c/o: CHIMICLES SCHWARTZ KRINER & DONALDSON-SMITH LLP, Nicholas E. Chimicles, Kimberly Donaldson-Smith, or Stephanie Saunders, 361 W. Lancaster Avenue, Haverford, PA 19401, 610-642-8500, [email protected] or [email protected].

¹ "Non-Grandfathered Health Plan" means: (i) any health insurance policy created or purchased after March 23, 2010, and (ii) any health insurance policy created or purchased on or before March 23, 2010 that subsequently lost its grandfathered status. The Class does not include members of the Federal Employees Health Benefits ("FEHB") Program, including members of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan ("FEP").

Form and substance approved by Court Order dated December 12, 2018.

Media Contact: 
Angeion Group  
Douglas S. Clauson  
Director, Communications 
(215) 563-4116

SOURCE Angeion Group

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