[Viva] Fwd: AHF applauds India for Insurance Access for HIV Patients

Fri Dec 6 10:54:17 PST 2013

Fwd

On Dec 6, 2013 9:41 AM, Denise Becker <dbecker106 at gmail.com> wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: AIDS Healthcare Foundation <info at community.aidshealth.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 5, 2013 at 6:15 PM
Subject: AHF applauds India for Insurance Access for HIV Patients
To: dbecker106 at gmail.com

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*AHF applauds Health Insurance Access for HIV+ People in India*

*People living with HIV in India have gained access to life and health
insurance, thanks in part to advocacy efforts by AHF*

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization,
celebrates a revolutionary step in reducing HIV stigma in India that also
allows Indian citizens living with HIV/AIDS to have increased access to
life and health insurance.

The longstanding norm for insurance companies – which has been to expressly
exclude people living with HIV from all plans and deny them access to
insurance simply based on their HIV status – has been reversed by the
country’s Department of AIDS Control (DAC) and the Union Health and Family
Welfare Ministry.

 “This is a time to rejoice,” said *Dr. V. Sam Prasad*, the Clinical
Affairs Manager for AHF India. “AHF advocacy demanding health insurance for
people living with HIV definitely contributed to this behavior change. The
DAC is now supporting communities by increasing access to health and life
insurance.”

Last month, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA),
  the national insurance regulation agency, released a circular advertising
available insurance plans. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry
pointed out that provisions within that draft specifically excluded people
living with HIV from accessing life and health insurance, and the DAC
quickly ordered IRDA to remove the exclusionary provisions.

AHF India has been extremely vocal about this express denial of life and
health insurance for people living with HIV, including hosting meaningful
demonstrations such as people pinning notes to the government demanding
change on a long red ribbon unfurled along a busy roadway on World AIDS Day
(December 1) 2012<http://andhravilas.net/newsdetail/629002/Postcards-seek-insurance-for-AIDS-patients-Dec-1-is-World-Aids-Day.html?elq=aedca2e5d7f64cd3a482eb6bab4c492a&elqCampaignId=45>.
  “People living with HIV/AIDS are one of the populations that need access
to life and health insurance the most so they have the greatest chance of
living well with HIV and also protecting their families’ security in the
face of a manageable yet serious health condition,” said *Dr. Nochikita
Mohanty*, the Country Program Manager for AHF India. "Their condition is
just as serious

 as cancer or diabetes, and patients with HIV/AIDS should have the same
rights as people with other serious conditions.”

The DAC will employ a group to ensure at least one health plan from each
insurance provider is accessible to people living with HIV. Additionally,
people living with the virus shall not be excluded from group health
insurance plans that are generally offered to employers by insurance
companies, and they will also have access to government-funded mass health
insurance efforts targeted at low-income communities and other vulnerable
societal groups.
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