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<br />+Q <br /> <br />P.O. Box 64560 <br /> <br />St. Paul, MN- <br /> <br />55164-0560 <br /> <br />651.662.8000 <br /> <br />1.800.382.2000 <br /> <br />www.bluecrossmn.com <br /> <br />LOl <br /> <br />l <br /> <br />BlueCross BlueShield <br />of Minnesota <br /> <br />DEe J 7 2005 <br /> <br />To: Blue Cross Group Eligible for Settlement Payment <br /> <br />Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is pleased to provide you with a <br />settlement check from the settlement of the Tow Distributing class action litigation. <br />At the end of November, our court-approved settlement was finalized and we can <br />now distribute these proceeds. <br /> <br />Approximately 1 0,000 Blue Cross employer groups are receiving checks as part of <br />a settlement agreement that calls for the di~tribLition of $41. miHion to emp!oyer <br />groups (less plaintiffs' attorneys fees and court awarded costs). <br /> <br />We also will use tobacco proceeds to fund programs through our Prevention <br />Minnesota initiative to improve the health of all Minnesotans. These programs will <br />focus on tobacco use, physical inactivity and nutrition, which are the leading <br />preventable causes of death. <br /> <br />In addition to Prevention Minnesota and the settlement checks sent to employers, <br />proceeds from the original tobacco litigation settlement will go to other health- <br />related causes. We have already sent nearly $30 million to current and former <br />individual policyholders. Approximately $30 million will be going to community <br />health clinics in Minnesota. These clinics serve the uninsured and under-insured of <br />our communities. And, approximately $70 million will be going to provide debt relief <br />for the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association. MCHA provides health <br />insurance policies to Minnesota residents, who have been denied private health <br />insurance because of a pre-existing condition. <br /> <br />You should be aware that the U.S. Department of Labor has advised us that they <br />plan to do random audits of groups that received settlement checks and are <br />subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to <br />assure .comp!iam~e with ER.ISA requirements. A summary of B ,U,S. Department of <br />Labor Advisory Opinion regarding ERISA issues associated with these payments <br />and the full Advisory Opinion can be found at our website: <br /> <br />www.bluecrossmn.com/public/healthandwellness/settlement.html <br /> <br />For more specific guidance on your situation, we recommend you seek the advice <br />of your attorney or other advisor. <br /> <br />If you have questions about your settlement check or our tobacco related <br />programs, please call 1-866-356-2426. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota <br /> <br />Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association <br />