Anthem Proton Beam Therapy Denial Class Action Settlement
Anthem Proton Beam Therapy Denial Class Action Settlement
Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. and Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. (together, Anthem) agreed to a $3,625,000 settlement over allegations that Anthem improperly denied coverage for proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) used to treat prostate cancer under ERISA-governed health plans. Members of ERISA plans underwritten or administered by Anthem who were denied PBRT coverage for prostate cancer and paid for the treatment out of pocket can file a claim for a pro rata share of the fund based on what they paid, up to their actual out-of-pocket cost. The Court granted final approval on August 19, 2026, and claim forms must be postmarked by October 10, 2026.
Settlement fund
$3.625M
Common fund
Top payout
Pro rata
Based on your out-of-pocket PBRT costs, capped at what you paid
Claim deadline
Oct 10, 2026
31 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Oct 10, 2026.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You were a beneficiary of an ERISA-regulated health plan underwritten or administered by Anthem (including Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia).
- You sought coverage for proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) to treat prostate cancer, and Anthem denied the pre-service authorization request or the post-service claim for reimbursement because it considered PBRT experimental, investigational, unproven, or not sufficiently proven in effectiveness.
- You received the PBRT treatment and paid for it out of pocket because it was not covered by Anthem or any other insurance. Anthem identified roughly 140 such people in discovery, and the Settlement Administrator mailed them notice.
- Documentation is required. Your claim must include the provider's name and address, the dates of service, a description of the services, and the provider charges you paid out of pocket.
- Excluded: The judge presiding over the case and his immediate family and staff; Anthem, its employees, and their immediate families; Class Counsel, their employees, and their immediate families; and anyone who validly opted out by July 27, 2026.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-266-6960, email admin@protonbeamradiationtherapylitigation.com, or visit ProtonBeamRadiationTherapyLitigation.com.
What happened
Plaintiffs Todd J. Taylor and Thomas Lahowetz filed this class action in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee alleging that Anthem improperly denied health plan benefits for proton beam radiation therapy (PBRT) used to treat prostate cancer, in violation of ERISA § 502(a)(1)(B). According to the complaint, Anthem denied pre-service authorization requests and post-service reimbursement claims on the ground that PBRT was experimental, investigational, unproven, or not sufficiently proven in effectiveness, leaving plan members to pay for the treatment themselves. The parties reached the settlement after a mediation in January 2026.
Anthem denies the allegations and denies any wrongdoing or liability. The Court did not decide in favor of either side. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost, risk, and delay of continued litigation and trial. On August 19, 2026, the Court granted final approval of the settlement and approved attorneys' fees of $906,250, reimbursable expenses of $68,325.48, and service awards of $10,000 to each of the two Class Representatives.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You qualify if you were a member of an ERISA health plan underwritten or administered by Anthem, sought coverage for proton beam radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer, were denied, and paid for the treatment out of pocket. Anthem identified the roughly 140 Settlement Class Members from its own records and the Settlement Administrator mailed each of them a notice and claim form. If you received a notice, you are on the list.
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2. Gather your treatment records
Your payment is calculated from your Qualifying Payments, meaning the total out-of-pocket amount you paid for PBRT to treat prostate cancer. The Claim Form requires documentation showing the provider's name and address, the dates of service, a description of the services, and the provider charges you paid. Itemized bills, receipts, or a statement from the treatment center usually satisfy this. Your share of the net fund is pro rata (your Qualifying Payments divided by all approved claimants' Qualifying Payments), and no one receives more than they actually paid.
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3. File your claim by mail
There is no online claim form for this settlement. Download and print the Claim Form at ProtonBeamRadiationTherapyLitigation.com, complete it, attach your documentation, and mail it postmarked by October 10, 2026 to: Taylor, et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc., et al. Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132. The Long Form Notice, Settlement Agreement, and approval orders are posted under Case Documents at ProtonBeamRadiationTherapyLitigation.com.
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4. Receive your payment
The Court granted final approval on August 19, 2026. Payments will be issued by check once the claim deadline passes, the Settlement Administrator reviews all claims, and the judgment becomes final (including the resolution of any appeals, which can take a year or more). Checks are void 180 days after issuance, so deposit yours promptly. No follow-up is required once your claim is postmarked.
Key dates
- Jul 27, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Passed
- Oct 10, 2026 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Aug 19, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (9:30 a.m. CT, held in Nashville (final approval granted)) Passed
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing was held on August 19, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge William L. Campbell Jr. at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, 719 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37203, and the Court granted final approval that day. The opt-out and objection deadline of July 27, 2026 has passed. The only remaining deadline is the October 10, 2026 postmark deadline for claim forms. Check ProtonBeamRadiationTherapyLitigation.com for updates.
Where the money is going
This is a $3,625,000 common fund. Court-approved attorneys' fees, reimbursable expenses, service awards, notice and administration costs, and any applicable taxes come out of the fund before the Distributable Settlement Amount is divided pro rata among approved claimants. Amounts from uncashed checks that cannot be reissued revert to Anthem, and any undistributed remainder goes to the cy pres recipient, Beam of Hope Foundation.
Attorneys' fees, expenses, and service awards were approved by the Court on August 19, 2026. Notice and administration costs have not been publicly itemized and will further reduce the amount available to claimants. Each claimant's payment is a pro rata share of the net fund based on their out-of-pocket PBRT payments and cannot exceed the amount they actually paid.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Your payment depends on how much you paid out of pocket for PBRT and how many other Class Members file valid claims. The Settlement Administrator divides your Qualifying Payments by the total Qualifying Payments of all approved claimants and multiplies that share by the Distributable Settlement Amount (roughly $2.63 million before notice and administration costs). No Class Member can receive more than the total they actually paid out of pocket. With only about 140 people in the class and a fund this size, individual payments could be substantial, but the exact figure will not be known until all claims are reviewed.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
Yes. This settlement requires documentation. Your Claim Form must include records showing the provider's name and address, the date(s) of service, a description of the services provided, and the provider charges you paid out of pocket for PBRT to treat prostate cancer. If you no longer have your bills or receipts, contact the treatment center's billing office and request an itemized statement of paid charges, then call the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-266-6960 if you have questions about what will be accepted.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
Anthem identified the roughly 140 Settlement Class Members from its own records, and the Settlement Administrator mailed each of them a notice and claim form. If you believe you meet the class definition but did not receive a notice, contact the Settlement Administrator at 1-888-266-6960 or admin@protonbeamradiationtherapylitigation.com to ask whether you are on the class list. The claim form itself can be downloaded from the settlement website.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
Yes. The deadline to exclude yourself from the settlement was July 27, 2026 and has passed. If you did not opt out, you are bound by the settlement and the Court's final approval order, and you release Anthem and its Released Parties (including affiliated Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans and health-benefit plans for which Anthem processed claims) from all claims relating to the denial of PBRT coverage for prostate cancer that were or could have been raised in this case. Filing a claim does not change the release; staying in the class does. The full Released Claims definition is in the Settlement Agreement at ProtonBeamRadiationTherapyLitigation.com.
When will payments be sent out?
The Court granted final approval on August 19, 2026. The Settlement Administrator will review claims after the October 10, 2026 postmark deadline, and payments will be mailed by check once the judgment is final and any appeals are resolved. If no appeal is filed, payments could go out in late 2026 or early 2027; an appeal can add a year or more. Checks are void 180 days after issuance.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. and Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., Verita Global, LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Jordan Lewis of Jordan Lewis, P.A., Alyson Beridon of Herzfeld, Suetholz, Gastel, Leniski & Wall PLLC, John Yanchunis of Morgan & Morgan, and Robert Sparks of Strauss Troy Co., LPA. The case is Taylor, et al. v. Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. and Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., Case No. 3:23-cv-00541, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee before the Honorable William L. Campbell Jr.. Class representatives are Todd J. Taylor and Thomas Lahowetz. Anthem denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.