Hepatitis C Support Group

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

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Levicah 01/09/2013

This is, but isnt a medicare question. I would like to hear realistic projections and discussions on the insurance/financial issues that will be facing those of us that are counting on the new Tx's. What is the probability of medicare paying the customary 80%? Will any "supplemental" insurance cover the exorbitant remaining 20%?
Based on past Tx drug costs, what would be the "probable" price tag of these new treatments? Or for my own imaginations, what were the real costs for past Tx's? I have heard a lot of different dollar amounts.
You all know what I am really asking. I have medicare. Period.
Should I be getting my panties in a bunch for the 2014-15 drugs? Or are they going to be unreachable still?
Thanks you guys.

ImKramer 01/09/2013

I have a feeling they will facilitate access as much as possible to avoid the heavy burden of transplant and increasing secondary and tertiary complications which would result in higher medical costs and claims. It's in everybody's best interest to get people well again, especially at the big wave of boomer HCV hits.

Levicah 01/09/2013

Yeah, I hope you are right kramer. Someone here mentioned 50k + per month for tri tx!! It got me thinking...will these new meds even be within reach.

erniecoolcat 01/09/2013

Levicah, I know this world somewhat pretty well. I've worked at a large medical institution in the complex world of kidney disease and treatment (Nephrology) and I am an expert in disability benefits. But I do believe that everybody will have access to HCV tx soon due to universal healthcare. The full effects will be 01/01/2014. In California, we will roll it out I believe in October of this year. Already, I had a patient begin on hemodialysis this evening that had the first PCIP insurance plan I've seen. This is the pre-existing condition coverage though Obama's universal health care. It's already approx 1/5th of what people were paying for major risk insurance here (MRMIP). I saw that today. There is a $2,500 out-of-pocket deductible though but this is not a universal healthcare plan. It's way better though and it terminates on New Year's Eve of this year. 2014 we'll all be covered here. I don't care what you all think, I am sofa king glad that you will all have coverage for tx when it's here. I'm ecstatic for that.

http://www.pcip.ca.gov/Home/default.aspx

Levicah, you just keep staying healthy. I really just came into your thread to say hey how the heck are you? Can you believe I'm done in 9 freakin'...wait...make that fucking days! Needed a swear ;-) This was crazy.

erniecoolcat 01/09/2013

Oh..I meant to say I've done so for over 17 years now. I've seen an extremely comprehensive view of health care delivery in most ways. This is coming for all of us.

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