HIV Status of Thousands Revealed on Envelopes Mailed by Aetna
Important Data Breach Information
A serious data breach occurred this past summer involving thousands of people with HIV who received letters in the mail from Aetna that may have disclosed their HIV status on the envelope. If you received one of these letters, please fill out the form on this page or call us at 424-245-5505.
The letters were intended to inform patients regarding a change in pharmacy benefits. As some of the letters shifted inside the envelopes during mailing, several of the patients’ private medical information were revealed through a small window on the envelopes. If you received one of these letters, please fill out the form on this page or call us at 424-245-5505.
The medical privacy breach was discovered by Legal Action Center, a non-profit group that helps people with AIDS fight discrimination.
Aetna responded to the breach in a statement, calling the mistake unacceptable. The mailing was sent July 28, 2017. A second letter was sent to potentially affected members outlining their rights and how to file a complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has claimed in a tweet of August 25, 2017, that this breach of privacy “appears to violate federal and NY laws.”
Additionally, a 2009 law requires companies that are covered by federal health privacy laws, like plans, providers, and their vendors, to report data breaches that affect more than 500 individuals. If you received one of these letters, please fill out the form on this page or call us at 424-245-5505.
While federal law protects people against being fired for their HIV or AIDS status, it only applies to companies with more than 14 workers, according to the ACLU. Smaller companies may or may not be bound by the same anti-discrimination laws depending on which state or city you live in.
If you have received a letter from Aetna indicating your HIV status, your right to medical privacy may have been violated. Please contact us using the form on this page or call us at 424-245-5505.
You may be part of a class action lawsuit and be eligible for compensation.
