[cultus]

People with HIV just have to pop a couple pills a day now to take their viral loads to literally undetectable levels. With treatment, people with HIV can expect to live normal lives, and be healthy and active. It's also almost impossible to transmit HIV with such low viral loads.

[dajohnson89]

And how expensive is that treatment?

[joshstrange]

Truvada which is a HIV prevention drug was priced at ~$1500/mo. I mention it because I know the chemicals in Truvada are similar but IDK the price comparison. Most people on HIV meds are probably hitting their Out-of-pocket max pretty early in the year.

I have had two high deductible plans in the last two year (work changed providers) and here were the things I remember:

Old Insurance:

Deductible: $3,000

Tier: 2

Price: 100%/$60

New Insurance:

Deductible: $3,000

Tier: 3 (maybe 4, I can't remember)

Price: 100%/25%

It was effectively free to me on my old insurance with the copay card (covered $3600) because I would hit my deductible and then have enough to cover the co-pays after. On my new insurance it's not feasible for me to pay ~$400/mo until I hit my OOP ($6000). You might be asking why I didn't look at a PPO plan instead of high deductible, because of the drug tier there was no difference in the price.

[slavak]

You mean in the United States? Or in the civilized world?

[cultus]

Let's just say you want to have insurance. ARVs are something that needs to be free, even moreso that many other health treatments. There is a huge negative externality involved in having untreated HIV since it can be transmitted. If we got everyone tested consistently, and got anyone with HIV on immediate treatment, infection rates would plummet.

HIV tests are still not included in routine bloodwork, even though other diseases like hepatitis are.