Financial regulators in New York are investigating allegations that insurance companies have declined customers seeking life, disability or long-term care policies because they were taking medication to protect themselves from HIV.

The investigation comes on the heels of a report by the New York Times that showed insurers were regularly denying policies to otherwise healthy men who were taking Truvada, a medication that significantly reduces the probability of HIV transmission. The drug has become popular in the gay community, which is disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS.

The irony, the Times pointed out, is that insurers are discriminating against people who are taking measures to protect themselves from the type of debilitating illness that would lead to expensive claims.