Health advocates allege 4 Fla. insurers discriminate against HIV patients

May 31 2014

In a complaint to federal officials, the groups say the companies set high out-of-pocket costs for drugs to treat HIV and AIDS in an effort to discourage gay patients from picking the plans.

The Associated Press: Complaint Accuses 4 Fla. Insurers Of Discrimination
Two health organizations filed a complaint with federal health officials Thursday alleging some Florida insurance companies are violating the Affordable Care Act by structuring their insurance plans in a way that discourage consumers with HIV and AIDS from choosing those plans (Kennedy, 5/29).

The New York Times: Bias Claims For Insurers In Coverage Of H.I.V.
Health care advocates said on Thursday that four insurers offering plans in the new federal marketplace discriminated against people with H.I.V. or AIDS by requiring them to pay high out-of-pocket costs for drugs to treat H.I.V., including generic medications (Thomas, 5/29).

The Wall Street Journal: Insurers Accused Of Discriminating Against People With HIV
The complaint says the four insurers put every HIV drug, even older generics, in the highest tier in their drug formularies, requiring patients to pay as much as 50% of the cost themselves. HIV advocacy organizations have said the issue isn't specific to Florida and they believe a decision would influence plans across the country (Radnofsky, 5/29).