PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Two legal organizations say health insurer Aetna revealed the HIV status of patients in several states by mailing envelopes with a large, clear window that showed information on purchasing HIV prescriptions.
On Monday a Pennsylvania man filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia is seeking class-action status. It says the 52-year-old man from suburban Philadelphia doesn't have the virus that causes AIDS but was taking the medication preventatively.
He says his sister learned he was taking the HIV medication after the company mailed him the envelope.
The lawsuit claims the mailing violated the law by revealing HIV information of about 12,000 customers in at least 23 states.
A spokesman for the Hartford, Connecticut-based company declined to comment on the suit.
Last week, the company said it was reviewing processes to ensure such a mistake never happens again.
Patients involved were in Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.
