Aetna, along with its Coventry plans, will reduce patient cost-sharing for most HIV meds by moving them out of the most expensive tiers of its insurance plans, Bloomberg reports.
People with Aetna insurance who used to pay upwards of $1,000 per month in out-of-pocket costs may now pay closer to $5 to $100 after deductibles are met.
The changes to the co-pays will take effect June 1, according to an AIDS Institute press release, and they will cover all HIV meds except an injectable fusion inhibitor.
Last spring, the AIDS Institute and the National Health Law Program filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Civil Rights, claiming that four health insurers in Florida discriminated against people with HIV by placing all their meds—even the generic versions—in the most expensive tiers. The DHHS warned insurers against this practice.
Aetna and other insurers had already changed their policy in the state of Florida. These new cost-reductions will take place nationwide.
What’s more, according to the AIDS Institute, Aetna said its customers may buy meds through retail or mail-order pharmacies. Last December, the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog filed a lawsuit against Aetna for requiring HIV-positive people to get their meds through its mail-order pharmacy.
According to an analysis by Avalere Health, more insurance changes are putting HIV meds in the highest cost-sharing tier.
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