Treating the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) not only requires emotional commitment but also takes a massive deal of financial commitment. But there is financial assistance for Hep C patients.
With the first set of medications that came out for treating HCV, a patient would spend as much as $100,000 on just one treatment course. Frightening!
We have recorded huge advancements in affording HCV treatment procedures.
With the increased introduction of generic treatment versions, you’re looking at spending as much as $24,000 on a full HCV full treatment course.
A positive development, yes, but $24K is yet heavy to cough up for treatment. Not everyone can boast of such deep pockets. However, health should never be an exclusive asset of the wealthy, should it?
No, and here are five fantastic and reputable funding programs (or providers) for people with Hep C.
Founded in 1976 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD), The American Liver Foundation (ALF) is profoundly committed to eradicating liver diseases from the globe.
Efforts include the Drug Discount Card program – in partnership with NeedyMeds – for those struggling to meet the financial demands of their HCV treatment.
This is an amazing discount card recognized and operable in over 63,000 pharmacies. This card is recognized by dominant chains like Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite Aid.
With this card, underinsured –and insured HCV patients – and their loved ones can access HCV medication erstwhile beyond their financial reach. In addition, the qualification criteria are not too intimidating.
There are no discriminations on the ground of residency, income level, or insurance coverage.
You don’t need a cent to register in the program and get furnished with the Drug Discount Card.
Your loved ones can choose to share yours with you or print their own copies.
Relax, this card doesn’t have an expiry rate and is infinitely valid. But take note that the Drug Discount Card is not recognized for OTC medications.
Furthermore, you cannot use this card for pet prescription medications you procure at your local drug store.
Lastly, you must have a prescription to enjoy this card.
Still, on funding for HCV treatment, the HealthWell Foundation is another monetary savior worth mentioning.
This foundation provides funding facilities for people struggling to buy their HCV prescription drugs.
Your qualification for the funding resource depends on your specific circumstance, cutting through your insurance, finances, and overall health condition.
Aside from being currently treated for Hep C, you must have an active health insurance package covering a fraction of your HCV treatment cost to qualify for this package.
This can be any of Tricare, Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance.
There are also income-related eligibility requirements to access this resource. Let us dig in deeper, shall we?
To qualify for the HealthWell funding program, your income level must be within 400-500% of the Federal Poverty Level.
To further ascertain your appropriateness for this funding, the foundation considers your state (and city) of residence.
Candidates are expected to offer information on their living expenditures and family size.
This is one of the oldest funding resources available to people treating HCV, created far back in 1947.
This program requires medical facilities established – in whole or part – to provide HCV treatment to patients (covered by the Hill-Burton program) at substantially reduced costs.
The story goes back to 1946 when Congress passed legislation that endowed medical facilities, cutting across nursing homes and hospitals with loans for renovating their facilities or extending them.
The agreement mandated recipients to return the loan in subsidized treatment programs for people in their residency.
While funding was terminated in 1997, an estimated 140 medical facilities across the United States are still obligated to provide cost-downsized medical services to people in their proximity.
Such subsidized service provision has been ongoing, with free service delivery running into $6 billion provided to qualified patients since 1980 via the Hill-Burton program.
As an HCV patient, you can leverage this program to shrink the cost of your treatment. To qualify, your income levels must correspond with the HHS Poverty Guidelines.
Take note that the Hill-Burton program only provides funding assistance for expenditures incurred in one of its obligated health facilities.
This means extraneously incurred expenses in treatment, say from private physicians, are not covered by this program. You can find more information on this funding program here.
This funding resource is streamlined to people treated for cancer. The Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund (BMCF) targets cancer patients within 18-40 years.
Struggling to foot your HCV (being closely related to liver cancer) treatment bills? Leverage the BMCF to tackle treatment expenditures, including temporary housing, insurance, health care, and even procuring groceries.
Some specific funding assistance includes co-payments for the said expenses (groceries, rent, transport, entertainment), amounting to anywhere from $500-600.
Another option for financial assistance for Hep C patients is this holistic funding package which combines more than 470 private and public patient assistance programs.
Among these are about 200 programs championed by leading biopharmaceutical enterprises in the United States.
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) targets financially challenged patients (HCV included) unable to procure medication.
Thanks to PPA, such patients can tap into these prescription assistance programs to dramatically reduce the cost of their medications, even offering at zero costs in some instances.
The PPA is simplified. It deploys an integrated platform where the HCV patient – or an advocate – accesses an overwhelming stack of 475 patient assistance programs.
Complete a simple online form with information spanning income levels and ongoing prescription medicine. The platform then matches the patient with the befitting assistance program. Viola!
So, here are five phenomenal funding assistance programs if you have HCV. We want to enjoy a slice of your next birthday cake, and we need you healthy to bake it.
Maximize these resources and obtain financial assistance available for Hep C patients to enjoy buoyancy in your health at an incredibly discounted cost.
Hepatitis C: Rejecting Shame & Being Proactive About Your Treatment
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