AIDS foundation alleges Humana discriminates against Illinois HIV patients
The foundation, along with the
The complaint charges that Humana requires consumers with its silver exchange plan in
For example, an HIV patient on a certain treatment regimen could pay
It's one of nearly a dozen such complaints filed by the
"This is becoming a national trend, and I think it's really important that we bring to light and push back on these discriminatory plan designs so they don't become routinized," said
Humana spokeswoman
"Humana shares the concerns of HIV/AIDS organizations regarding the high cost of HIV/AIDS drugs and we are committed to working with them to lower prescription drug costs," she said.
Medications for HIV/AIDS are not the only types drugs for which Humana often requires consumers to shoulder 50 percent of the cost, said
By requiring HIV patients to pay so much for their medications, Humana is driving them to other insurers and those insurers may, in turn, have to charge all customers more to deal with the higher costs, the foundation and
The complaint says the pricing amounts to discrimination against those with HIV and AIDS, in violation of the Affordable Care Act.
"Complicity with this type of discriminatory practice allows one insurer to take advantage of the system in a manner that is unfair to other competing insurance companies who remain in compliance (with the law)," according to the complaint. "And it is undoubtedly unfair to HIV-positive individuals, who are among those potential enrollees with the greatest health needs, yet are faced with the greatest financial costs."
The foundation and the
Humana plans to offer individual HMO coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchange mostly in northwest, western and central
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