AIDS patients, advocates allege insurers are discriminating by pricing drugs beyond reach

Health advocates allege some insurance plans under the new federal health law are discriminating against HIV and AIDS patients by requiring them to pay a percentage of costly medications instead of a flat co-pay, essentially pricing the medications out of reach.

The AIDS Institute says some insurers are also requiring new drug authorization or making the claims process difficult to impede access to services.

The group filed a complaint with U.S. Health and Human Services officials last month against four Florida insurance companies alleging they're discouraging HIV consumers from choosing those plans. Advocates elsewhere are considering similar complaints. They say they're seeing similar problems with some exchange plans in Ohio, California, Illinois and other states.