(KTTC) – Medical insurance can get pretty pricey and during this open enrollment season some people with HIV are having a hard time finding an insurance plan at an affordable cost.

HIV and Hepatitis Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. advocates for people living with HIV, people vulnerable to the virus and their access to prescription drugs.

“There’s still stigma associated with HIV today, but I got involved because, you know, I was losing people around me,” Carl Schmid, Executive Director of the organization, said.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act or ACA, HIV patients can access private insurance, but the cost of some of these plans are expensive.

In Minnesota for 2025, private insurance companies have put most HIV medicine on the highest tier.

Schmid said this can deter people away from applying for a health plan.

“Because it’s on a high tier it’s like $700 in some of the plans, so you could be paying the insurance company more than what they’re paying for the drug,” he said.

According to the ACA, health insurance companies cannot discriminate based on a person’s health.

Schmid says that he and other advocates in Minnesota want federal enforcement and is asking the state’s deputy commissioner of insurance to hold the companies accountable.

“If there’s no enforcement then the insurers will get away with what they can.”

KTTC staff did reach out to the Minnesota commerce department on a statement regarding the issues and have not heard back at this time.

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