Aetna offers reimbursement to members affected by inadvertent HIV status reveal

Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna will reimburse members claiming they incurred financial damages resulting from the payer’s inadvertent reveal of members’ HIV status through mailed envelope windows.

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In August, reports surfaced Aetna inadvertently revealed the HIV status of some of its members when it mailed letters with information visible through a window on the envelopes. The unintentionally exposed personal health information included information about filling prescriptions for HIV medications as well as pre-exposure prophylaxis. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a pill that helps prevent a person from contracting HIV.

In addition to reimbursing those claiming direct financial hardship from the privacy breach, Aetna will provide affected members counseling services.

While Aetna is offering the reimbursements, it is not admitting wrongdoing. 

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