LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- California lawmaker Lena Gonzalez proposed a new bill that would make it easier for HIV-positive individuals to secure life and disability-income insurance.
The bill would prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to individuals based solely on someone's HIV status. If the bill is passed, it would effectively overturn a law passed in 1989 when treatment for HIV patients was limited and the life expectancy was shorter.
[Ads /]
"It will require the insurance companies treat HIV as any other chronic condition, not as a death sentence. And this bill will provide critical benefits for HIV-positive individuals to ensure they receive the coverage they deserve for themselves and their families." State Sen. Lena Gonzalez said.
In a news release from the California Department of Insurance, commissioner Ricardo Lara said:
[Ads /]
"A person should not be defined by their HIV status and it should not be the only factor when determining their right to insurance protection."