AIDS patients in Obamacare limbo as insurers reject checks

[Jesus Malverde]

Hundreds of people with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana trying to obtain coverage under President Barack Obama's healthcare reform are in danger of being thrown out of the insurance plan they selected in a dispute over federal subsidies and the interpretation of federal rules about preventing Obamacare fraud.

Some healthcare advocates see discrimination in the move, but Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana says it is not trying to keep people with HIV/AIDS from enrolling in one of its policies under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The state's largest carrier is rejecting checks from a federal program designed to help these patients pay for AIDS drugs and insurance premiums, and has begun notifying customers that their enrollment in its Obamacare plans will be discontinued.

The carrier says it no longer will accept third-party payments, such as those under the 1990 Ryan White Act, which many people with HIV/AIDS use to pay their premiums.

"In no event will coverage be provided to any subscribers, as of March 1, 2014, unless the premiums are paid by the subscriber (or a relative) unless otherwise required by law," Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana spokesman John Maginnis told Reuters.

http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-aids-patients-obamacare-limbo-insurers-reject-checks-152316632--sector.html;_ylt=AwrBJR5rZPZSUBMAzhHQtDMD

[glowing]

1. Just a way for the insurance company's to deny coverage to patients who will need costly care their

entire existence. So, they set up this BS about accepting checks from grant blocks. The Grant writers will have to submit them to the individuals directly, or stop taking funds for helping people with HIV/AIDS.

[Renew Deal]

3. That is their specialty

"Just a way for the insurance company's to deny coverage to patients who will need costly care"

[TheKentuckian]

2. The comments that followed the article are a fucking cesspool.

What an assortment of idiots, bigots, haters, liars, fools, pricks, and general purpose fuckwits!

[Igel]

5. So don't read them.

The comments aren't part of the story and don't affect the content of the story.

[TheKentuckian]

6. I didn't say they did nor can I unread them unless I can borrow your time machine.

[Gman]

4. They wanted and got the ACA under their terms

And they still want to pick and choose how to comply with what they wanted.

[dembotoz]

7. insurance companies are still assholes big surprise there