I had Hepatitis C for nearly 40 years. They think I contracted it while in the Army. They had a tendency in those days to reuse needles.
When I was diagnosed with Hep C, (they found it when I tried to donate blood some 30 years after I caught the Hep C), they were using a drug that was only very partially successful. I had to inject myself with the drug for 6 months... it was expensive... I think about $300 per injection. It did nothing. So..
just a few years later I went on it again... this time with an added drug boosting the cost to I think about $500 per injection. My insurance paid most it... I was out of pocket maybe 15% of the total. Again... the second time thru did nothing to cure or even alleviate the Hep C.
But because I was actively trying, and it was early, my doctor got me into a program for a new drug... and because it was experimental it cost me nothing.... BUT... the cost per dose was astronomical, if I would have had to pay i couldn't have taken it. I can't remember how long I took this drug but I remember the total cost came to nearly $300,000. It cured me.
The drug is called "Harvoni"... still being used today. And you don't need health insurance.... there are many MANY ways to get it with little to no cost.
What I'm getting at is: There are ways, many programs, for people to get the help they need. It's far from even a 'good' system but there are ways, for all. - JamesJM
