Ask Lambda Legal - The Ryan White Program and Insurance

I’m a person living with HIV in Kentucky and receive assistance to pay for my health insurance through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. I heard that there were problems getting insurance companies to accept such payments; am I going to have similar problems here in Kentucky?
 
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a federal program designed to help lower-income people with HIV pay for their insurance premiums. This program is very important and sometimes absolutely vital, because it helps thousands of people across the country get the coverage they need to pay for medical treatment for HIV. And, as a result of some advocacy done by Lambda Legal and others, private insurers all across the country are still required to accept these payments.
 
In January, John East, a New Orleans resident, learned that Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Louisiana intended to stop accepting the federal dollars that had helped pay for his health insurance. East has been with BCBS since 1985, paying the ever-increasing premiums himself until 2009, when he lost his job. Thankfully, he enrolled in the Ryan White program.
 
But in January, when BCBS indicated that it would stop accepting payments from any third party, East was afraid he might suddenly stop getting his HIV medicines and other important medical care. The threat that he may be dropped from the BCBS insurance rolls was quite alarming to him. BCBS argued that it needed to stop accepting all third-party payments to diminish the risk of fraud, even though federal guidelines noted that insurers should continue accepting Ryan White funds.
 
Lambda Legal stepped in, sending BCBS a letter urging the company not to change its policy and then filing complaints with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services against BCBS and two other Louisiana insurers making similar claims. When this didn’t work, Lambda Legal filed a federal class action lawsuit against all three insurers on behalf of East and other lower-income Louisianans living with HIV.
 
Days later, the U.S. District Court issued an emergency order requiring the insurers to continue accepting the Ryan White payments. Shortly thereafter, the insurers said they would take the payments through the end of the year. Finally, the federal government subsequently issued a regulation requiring that insurers nationwide continue to accept the payments.
 
Accepting payments from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program should no longer cause a problem anywhere in the United States. Thankfully, under the Affordable Care Act — with its strong protections against discrimination and elimination of the pre-existing condition exclusion — insurers are not permitted to exclude people living with HIV through direct or indirect means like claims of fraud risk.
 
If you have any questions or feel you have been discriminated against because of your gender, sexual orientation, or HIV status, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk at 866-542-8336 or go to Ask Lambda Legal
&nbsp
WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less