This week more than 100,000 California Blue Cross consumers will receive notice of their right to change coverage under a settlement in the Feller v. Blue Cross class action lawsuit.

Under the settlement, class members may (1) either change plans without medical underwriting to any one of the listed plans, or (2) remain in their current policy and have future rates capped.  For more information about the rate caps or other terms of the settlement visit the settlement website at www.FellerBlueCrossSettlement.com.

If consumers choose not to change their plans now they will have additional opportunities to move in 2012 or 2013, and possibly 2014.  Blue Cross will send notice of these future options to move.

Consumer Watchdog cannot give you advice about which plan to switch to, but here are a couple issues to keep in mind when considering changing plans:

(1) Generally, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium and vice versa.

(2) Before reviewing available plans, make a list of the types of health care services you use.  Then, look for plans that provide those benefits. Once you have decided which plan(s) provide the benefits you are interested in, call Blue Cross to find out how much each plan costs.

(3) If you are still enrolled in a "grandfathered" PPO Share plan, under federal law you will not be able to re-enroll in that plan once you switch to other coverage.