APNewsBreak: Man claims bias over use of HIV-blocking drug

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

As a gay man, the Boston attorney thought he was doing the responsible thing when he asked his doctor to prescribe Truvada, a drug hailed as a way to halt the spread of AIDS. But when he tried to get long-term care insurance, Mutual of Omaha turned him down, saying it does not offer coverage to anyone who takes the drug.

Now, the man is planning to sue the insurer, alleging he was discriminated against because he is gay. He filed a complaint Wednesday with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the first step in a lawsuit.

The man, who is identified only as John Doe in the complaint, said he wants to make sure that he and anyone else taking Truvada can get long-term care insurance, which covers daily, extended-care services for people with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

... He said he received a letter in April from a chief underwriter for Mutual of Omaha denying his appeal. "We do not offer coverage to anyone who takes the medication Truvada, regardless of whether it is prescribed to treat HIV infection, or is used for pre-exposure prophylaxis. This in accordance with our underwriting guidelines," the letter said, according to the complaint.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e02604bce9224b81ad9e30233a30f17c/apnewsbreak-man-claims-bias-over-use-hiv-blocking-drug

[Heddi]

1. That's totally fucked up. I had to take Truvada when I got a needlestick injury @ work

from an AIDS patient (not HIV-AIDS). I worked in the ICU, it was a small stick but I wasn't willing to take the chance. I was put on prophylaxis immediately and was out of work for the entire 1-month course b/c it made me so sick. It was covered by worker's comp but because it's so expensive they would only give it to me 7 days at a time. On top of the expense was that according to employee health, like 80% of the people who are Rx'ed it don't finish the whole month course because the side effects are so bad.

I did my 30 day treatment and went back to work.

That's fucked that this man can't get insurance, and neither can others like him, NOR people like me who took it because of prophylactic measures.

Fuck mutual of omaha and any other insurers who practice in this manner.

[Igel]

6. "Long term." n/t

[Heddi]

7. From the letter

""We do not offer coverage to anyone who takes the medication Truvada, regardless of whether it is prescribed to treat HIV infection, or is used for pre-exposure prophylaxis. This in accordance with our underwriting guidelines,""

[lonestarnot]

9. Yes fuck them all each and every one of them! They all practice in that manner! Single payer!

[Statistical]

2. Is a gay man really arguing that only homosexuals get AIDS?

Don't get me wrong it is messed up that insurance companies can block coverage but the only way he would be discriminated against for being gay is if only homosexuals use Truvada. I doubt the insurance company cares that he is gay, only that he would cost them money.

[Massacure]

3. Truvada is a really expensive drug too.

It costs $1300 a month. The amusing thing is that it is a mix of Tenofovir and Emtricitabine. Tenofovir cost less than a $100 a month. Emtricitabine cost less than $200 a month. I'm surprised health insurance companies would cover it considering it is $1000 a month cheaper to ask someone to take two pill instead of one. I also wonder if that would change this person's ability to get long term care insurance.

[SoapBox]

5. Tenofovir is Viread and it's really expensive.

At least at full retail.

But I do see that the 2 drug combo of Truvada is indeed supposed to be cheap (according to Wilipedia)...I wonder if it's cheap in the world but the U.S. Continues to get ripped off.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tenofovir/emtricitabine&redirect=no

Emtricitabine is supposed to be similar to 3TC, at least according to the link below but the side effects sound awful.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emtricitabine

[McCamy Taylor]

4. This is not a gay only issue. And they can deny insurance to anyone for any medical reason.

[XemaSab]

8. Use a rubber, dude

n/t