Published
December 2, 2024
Updated
July 16, 2026
This settlement resolved Telephone Consumer Protection Act claims that Change Healthcare Resources, LLC — the outreach company behind the “My Advocate” brand — placed prerecorded robocalls to cell phones on behalf of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. It is now closed: the December 2, 2024 claim deadline has passed and the court granted final approval in February 2025. Here is what the $1.67 million fund covered.
What Was the BCBS Change Healthcare Robocall Settlement?
This class action settlement resolved allegations that Change Healthcare Resources, LLC — an outreach company operating under the brand name “My Advocate” — placed artificial or prerecorded “robocall” voice calls to consumers’ cell phones on behalf of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) without the required consent, in alleged violation of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The defendants denied the allegations and did not admit any wrongdoing or liability. The case is Stark v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, et al., No. 1:23-cv-00022, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.The settlement is now closed. The deadline to file a claim, exclude yourself, or object was December 2, 2024, and the court granted final approval on February 18, 2025. The relief came from a non-reversionary $1,670,000 cash fund. There is nothing left to file.
Status
Settlement Closed
Final approval granted February 18, 2025.
Claim Deadline
Passed
The claim, exclusion, and objection deadline was December 2, 2024.
Settlement Fund
$1.67M
Non-reversionary cash fund distributed pro rata to valid claimants.
Proof Required
No
Claims were validated against the defendants’ call records — no receipts or ID needed.
Who Was Covered by the Settlement?
The settlement class included people who, from January 10, 2019 through July 17, 2024, were placed a call on their cell phone using an artificial or prerecorded voice by Change Healthcare Resources, LLC on behalf of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and who fell into one of these groups:• Were not a member or subscriber of BCBSNC, or
• Had opted out of receiving such calls
What Did the Settlement Provide?
The settlement established a non-reversionary cash fund of $1,670,000. After settlement administration costs, any court-approved fees, and service awards, the remaining money was distributed on a pro rata basis among class members with valid claims.Because relatively few valid claims were filed — press reports put the figure at roughly 662 — news coverage described an unusually large per-member payout of more than $1,000. That figure was reported based on the low claim count and was not a guaranteed per-person amount; the actual distribution depended on the number of approved claims and the fund left after deductions. The $1,670,000 fund size is a matter of record.
What Were the Allegations?
The lawsuit alleged that the defendants violated the TCPA (47 U.S.C. § 227), which restricts calls placed to cell phones using an artificial or prerecorded voice without prior express consent. The complaint alleged that the “My Advocate” outreach calls were placed to class members’ cell phones using such a prerecorded or artificial voice. The defendants denied the allegations and resolved the claims without admitting wrongdoing or liability. You can read more in our TCPA explainer.Which Companies Were Named
The named defendants were Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Change Healthcare Resources, LLC, the company that operated the “My Advocate” member-outreach program. Change Healthcare Resources, LLC is a distinct entity from Change Healthcare, Inc., the Optum / UnitedHealth Group healthcare-payments clearinghouse involved in the separate February 2024 ransomware data-breach incident — this robocall case is unrelated to that breach. It is also separate from the nationwide Blue Cross Blue Shield antitrust settlement, a different case with its own claim process.Key Dates
• Class Period: January 10, 2019 through July 17, 2024• Claim / Exclusion / Objection Deadline: December 2, 2024 (passed)
• Final Approval: Granted February 18, 2025
• Status: Closed — nothing left to file
Case Information
• Caption: Stark v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, et al.• Case No.: 1:23-cv-00022
• Court: U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
• Fund: $1,670,000 (non-reversionary)
• Final Approval: Granted February 18, 2025
• Status: Closed — claim deadline passed December 2, 2024
Sources
- Official Settlement Website — My Advocate Settlement
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina — Stark v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, et al., No. 1:23-cv-00022
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Relief
Pro rata cash from a $1,670,000 non-reversionary fund
Case Title
Stark v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, et al.
Case Number
1:23-cv-00022
Court
U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
Final Approval
Granted February 18, 2025
Status
Closed — claim deadline passed December 2, 2024
Official Website
My Advocate Settlement.com
