I had a scare and took PeP this year. I had to ER shop. First one denied me coverage and made assumptions. I ended up getting care at a cost of ~$6000 to my insurance. I paid $270. I have great healthcare but this is obscene. I don’t want to get sick and die. I was being careful but accidents happen.
Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
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Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
My friend who’s on a high-deductible plan says they reimburse you for the portion that’s before your deductible. It’s actually kind of a sweet deal because you hit your deductible without being out any money. Then you don’t have to worry about paying for medical care for the rest of the year.
Who is “they”? There’s a copay card you can use from Gilead that helps pay your co-pay but not aware if that helps you hit out of pocket expenses before you hit your deductible or if that counts as your copay.
The way it was explained to me is: you use the Gilead card to pay you copay, and that counts toward your deductible. So, my last post was wrong to use the word “reimburse”.
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#13I always felt like the only way you can eliminate the spread of a highly adaptive std is to develop a low barrier on-the-spot test administered just before intercourse at the latest or some point reasonably earlier in a date or whatever. This would still fail under the dormancy period viruses assume but it should improve the odds I'd imagine for those connected in one way or another to promiscuous sexual networks.
That's not a bad idea, but how does liability play out on a defective test, or a test used in a manner other than directed?
Would you bet the rest of your life on a casual test like that?
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#14Well, PrEP is a miracle drug that has gone criminally underutilized in the fight to eradicate HIV. It would be nice to see governments really push it hard for a change.
PrEP is hard to get, my doctor outright refused to prescribe it to me, they said they were not comfortable doing so
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#15#What -- In several geographically distant third world countries HIV is becoming antiretroviral resistant in ~10% of cases.
#Why -- No one is _really_ sure. The most popular hypothesis is that it happens when people go on and off the medicine. Why would people do this? Shame, access, and some mothers that went on only during pregnancy. WHO recommended a pregnancy only treatment until ~2015.
#Impact -- These resistant breeds can spread, presumably just like the other varieties. The people with it have a much worse prognosis than those without.
#PrEP -- All the other parent comments talk about it. Sure, it should be used more frequently. It's a bit of a pipe dream to see it used in the 3rd world.
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#16I always felt like the only way you can eliminate the spread of a highly adaptive std is to develop a low barrier on-the-spot test administered just before intercourse at the latest or some point reasonably earlier in a date or whatever. This would still fail under the dormancy period viruses assume but it should improve the odds I'd imagine for those connected in one way or another to promiscuous sexual networks.
1. There is no silver bullet to "eliminate the spread of highly adaptive std"
2. Condoms are very effective and can be used in this type of situation.
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#17Well, PrEP is a miracle drug that has gone criminally underutilized in the fight to eradicate HIV. It would be nice to see governments really push it hard for a change.
PrEP is hard to get, my doctor outright refused to prescribe it to me, they said they were not comfortable doing so
then get a new doctor. there is no medical rationale behind this, and they are letting irrational personal feelings get in the way of your good health
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#18Well, PrEP is a miracle drug that has gone criminally underutilized in the fight to eradicate HIV. It would be nice to see governments really push it hard for a change.
PrEP is hard to get, my doctor outright refused to prescribe it to me, they said they were not comfortable doing so
Did they give a reason for their discomfort?
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#19Well, PrEP is a miracle drug that has gone criminally underutilized in the fight to eradicate HIV. It would be nice to see governments really push it hard for a change.
It’s insane that it is $1400/month out of pocket, and if you have a high deductible plan you’d still be paying $6k+ potentially before it’s covered.
WHAT!? Here in Germany, my PrEP costs me €40 per month, and I only have to pay that because it’s one of the rare things that insurance doesn’t cover here.
Re: Alarming surge in drug-resistant HIV uncovered
#20Well, PrEP is a miracle drug that has gone criminally underutilized in the fight to eradicate HIV. It would be nice to see governments really push it hard for a change.
PrEP is hard to get, my doctor outright refused to prescribe it to me, they said they were not comfortable doing so
The get a new doctor, one who values your health more than their antiquated morals.