The medical treatments of HIV and AIDS have made many breakthroughs. The results of these treatments may include undetectable and untransmittable viral loads that make HIV unlikely to transmit sexually. Due to therapeutic and prophylactic advancements, the quality and longevity of life are improving for individuals with HIV/AIDS.
Quality of life for individuals with HIV/AIDS may hinge on access to the medication and healthcare needed to curb infection and maintain health. There are resources available to financially assist or create access for individuals with HIV/AIDS to receive the treatment they require to live their life to the greatest potential.
Healthcare needs for people living with HIV/AIDS can be categorized into prevention services, diagnostic and treatment services, and rehabilitation services. For patients, a critical aspect of healthcare needs and services includes barriers to access, such as travel and financial accessibility as well as resource availability.
Prevention and counseling services include access to public training and training packages that provide accurate information, including prevention and training services built specifically for vulnerable groups. Prevention services should include information and consultation on family planning, reproductive health, and sexual education. These services must provide viable options, information, and tools such as informational packages or contraceptives.
Diagnostic and treatment services may include widespread use of rapid diagnostic tests, availability of medications, and full treatment for HIV/AIDS and associated illnesses or additional conditions.
Rehabilitation services include special supportive psychological counseling, personal counseling, group therapy, and family therapy. Rehabilitation services may also include access to home care and treatment, as well as peer support, focused support groups, and nutritional guidance and support. A critical aspect of rehabilitation may also include access to recreational activities with peer groups and positive clubs, access to insurance, and support through employment issues.
The cost of HIV treatment is rising. The annual cost of antiretroviral therapy (ART) including new generic options for medication ranged between $36,000 and $48,000 in 2018. The cost of treatment in 2018 had risen by 34% since 2012, outpacing the rate of inflation.
These costs reflect the total cost of treatment rather than out-of-pocket expenses, but the rising cost of insurance and healthcare may affect the ability of patients to engage in or sustain critical care without going into medical bankruptcy.
Expenses in HIV treatment and care may include:
The cost of HIV/AIDS treatment depends on a few critical factors. These may include:
HIV and AIDS treatment and care is essential to reducing viral load, protecting health and longevity, and reducing the risk of transmission through preventative measures. If you do not have access to private health insurance through an employer, or your health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace does not adequately cover or provide access to HIV/AIDS treatment, you may qualify for federal assistance to pay for medication and treatments through the following resources.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program offered at a national level and regulated by the federal government of the U.S. To qualify and apply for Medicare, you must be aged 65 or older or may be included if you’re a younger person with qualifying conditions such as a permanent disability. You must also apply during special enrollment periods. The majority of people who rely on Medicare for HIV medical treatment are under the age of 65 and have a qualifying disability, or they qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance.
There are different parts of Medicare coverage for specific services:
Medicaid is a jointly funded federal and state program
that offers free or low-cost health care to those who are qualified for the program. Those eligible for Medicaid include low-income families, qualified pregnant women, and individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income.
There may also be additional state-specific options for coverage for those who would otherwise not be eligible. The Affordable Care Act allows states to receive federal Medicaid payments for Medicaid expansion. This has allowed for some low-income individuals with HIV to receive help through Medicaid when they otherwise would not have qualified.
Mandatory Medicaid benefits that are federally required include:
Other services that are not federally required but may be offered at the state level include:
To apply for Medicaid you must create an account and contact your state program.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides low-cost health coverage for children in families that may not qualify for Medicaid. The eligibility requirements of CHIP vary by state, though you can apply at any time of the year by calling 1(800) 318-2596, or by filling out an application through the Health Insurance Marketplace. CHIP benefits will differ by state, but each program should provide comprehensive coverage in regards to:
The Directory of AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP Directory) is a project run by the ADAP Advocacy Association and supported by grants. The program provides HIV-related services, medications, healthcare coverage, and financial resources to people in need by working cooperatively with state, city, and local organizations.
The ADAP directory offers program assistance by state, as well as listings of resources such as organizations, patient medication assistance, and pharmaceutical patient assistance programs.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is offered through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The program is divided into five parts:
To qualify for HIV care and treatment assistance through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, you must be diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, be considered low income as determined by your state, and have no health insurance or have health insurance that does not pay for the care you need. Assistance through the program will include being assigned a case manager to help you understand the services you need. Core medical services include:
Additional support services may be offered outside of core services as directed by case managers.
Health centers provide high-quality preventive and primary care services that include HIV testing, medical care, substance abuse care, family planning, as well as mental health and housing support. The HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator is easy to use by entering your city, state, or zip code to see what services are available in your location.
The Indian Health Service is a federal health program for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Programs provided by the IHS include HIV/AIDS programs for prevention and treatment. These programs are specifically for American Indians and they focus on:
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers HIV support specific to veterans, leading the country in HIV screening, treatment, research and prevention. Support, information, and services offered to veterans include:
There are a variety of non-federal programs and resources available to those living with HIV/AIDS. These programs vary from private health insurance to Patient Assistance Programs and nonprofits that offer financial or medical assistance, support, and treatment.
Private health insurance is typically obtained through an employer or purchased as individual health insurance. The Affordable Care Act improves access to coverage for HIV and AIDS by ensuring coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and more affordable coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Each healthcare plan will offer different premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, making it vitally important that you choose the best health insurance to meet your financial needs.
Patient assistance programs (PAPs) are organizations and programs that are typically sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, but may also include state programs or nonprofit-sponsored programs. PAPs offer free or low-cost medication and treatments for low-income individuals, or to bridge coverage gaps of those who are insured or do not have adequate prescription drug coverages.
Qualifications for PAPs are defined by each program and may not be readily available without contacting the organization. In general, you will need to meet the following requirements:
To sign up for PAPs, and learn more about their offerings, you may need to contact the program directly by calling or emailing, or sign up online. You could also utilize the Common Patient Assistance Program Application (HIV) as an enrollment tool that allows you to compile all of your information to send to various PAPs programs to apply for support.
The Medicine Assistance Tool (MAT) is not a patient assistance program, it’s a search engine that helps to match patients’ PAPs, resources, and cost-sharing programs to help with out-of-pocket expenses.
PAPs programs include:
There are many nonprofit programs that work in collaboration with donor organizations and international organizations to offer education, prevention, support, treatment, medication, and services for people living with HIV and AIDS. A few notable HIV/AIDS nonprofits include:
There may be times that you need further financial assistance to help cover the cost of gaps in access to important medical care, especially if you don’t have insurance. If you have exhausted your resources between insurance, federal programs, and non-federal assistance, you may consider fundraising or medical crowdfunding, or using a line of credit to meet your financial needs.
Medical crowdfunding and fundraising are ways to gather small donations from a large number of individuals. Crowdfunding on online platforms for HIV and AIDS can be a great opportunity to share your story and bring awareness of the health and financial impacts of living with HIV and AIDS.
To start a crowdfunding campaign you will need to select a platform to host your fundraiser. You may need to closely examine the ease of set up and use, fees, and how you intend to share your story. A few options for medical-specific fundraising may include:
Once you have selected your fundraising platform, you will need to design a strategy of how you will get your story in front of as many people as possible to help it be successful. Tips to create a successful campaign include:
If you have exhausted all other opportunities to help pay for your medical expenses, you may consider paying your bills with credit cards if you are still short on cash. Using a credit card to pay for your medical bills can provide you with time to pay back the debt. You will need to consider the type of credit card that will work best for your situation and finances by looking into the credit card interest, fees, and rewards.
Applying for a credit card will require your name, date of birth, billing address, and Social Security number. You will also need to consider your current financial health and credit score to see if you can increase your credit limit to ensure that you can cover your expenses. Most importantly, you will need to create a financial plan to pay off your credit card debt and avoid any extra spending that can put you further into debt.
You may also consider applying for a loan from the bank. There are different types of loans that you can apply for, including a personal loan. While applying for a credit card allows you a monthly credit limit, a personal loan provides you with your borrowed money in one lump sum. To use a personal loan, you will need to understand the components of the loan such as:
If your medical debt and expenses become insurmountable, you may consider medical debt forgiveness. This includes negotiating a payment plan with your healthcare provider’s billing department, double-checking your insurance coverage and potentially disputing your hospital bill, settling your medical debt, or applying to charities to help pay your debt expenses.
Students living with HIV/AIDS may encounter unique challenges while attending college. These could include fear of discrimination, difficulty finding access to proper healthcare and treatments, as well as the challenge of balancing finances to pay for medical expenses.
Consider searching for mental health and coping resources specifically catered to those living with HIV and AIDS to help improve your quality of life, such as:
Students might also consider applying for scholarships that are specifically built to support students with a positive HIV/AIDS status. Scholarships include:
You may also choose to seek out if your school or university offers its own scholarships rather than scholarships from nonprofits or other organizations. Examples of school-specific scholarships include:
There are additional resources for people living with HIV/AIDS that provide additional support. These may include: