Discriminatory practices by insurers, high drug prices from pharmaceutical companies and no clear federal guidelines for co-payments are to blame for costly plans under the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. the health care reform law, or ACA) for people living with HIV, hepatitis C and other chronic diseases, according to a statement by the Fair Pricing Coalition (FPC).

Although Qualified Health Plans under the ACA cannot be denied to people with pre-existing conditions, the FPC has put out a detailed list of major barriers to treatment in its new policy guide, Health Insurance Marketplace Plans and People Living with HIV and/or Viral Hepatitis: The Success of the Affordable Care Act Requires Fair Drug Pricing and Access. The guide also offers several solutions, which include increasing transparency and lowering out-of-pocket spending caps.

To read the statement, click here.

To read the policy guide, click here.