Regence Blueshield Cheats, Class Action Claims

SEATTLE (CN) - Regence Blueshield defrauds customers, misrepresents its services and ignored its own review panel to do so, a class-action complaint claims in King County Court. Plaintiffs claim that, in violation of its "Breakthru Plan" contract, Regence stops charging a reduced rate for medical services once patients have run up bills to a certain amount, and requires them to switch doctors if they want to keep getting reduced rates. Plaintiffs claim Regence's own appeals panel told the company to knock it off, but Regence persists. See complaint.