I can`t give you any help with your prescription question, but you would qualify for an 8 week tx duration with your low viral load, as long as this is your first treatment for Hep C and you don`t have cirrhosis. Having said that, it would be best to be guided by your doctor as far as tx duration is concerned.
If you wanted to wait until the new year then I`m sure a few months won`t make any difference to your health, although after having the infection since 1986 you almost certainly have some degree of fibrosis.
Best of luck with whichever way you go, Harvoni is an excellent treatment with very high success rates.
Groupergetter said
Oct 16, 2015
Welcome justaguy, this is a great forum. You're right, this stuff is a real load of crap. :)
Glad to hear you are about to get started. Any chance you might get 12 rather than 8 weeks tx? Gives additional assurance you will find SVR. You should check with the Harvoni support path: http://www.gilead.com/responsibility/us-patient-access/support%20path%20for%20sovaldi%20and%20harvoni to see if they might provide assistance. It's a toll free call. Good luck with this. The search function on the forum is a useful tool. Be well.
justaguy said
Oct 16, 2015
Thanks for the warm welcomes and replies everyone!
Penelope PePod said
Oct 16, 2015
Hi justaguy,
Welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of great information here. I can't add anything about co-pays, as I was blessed to have my retiree insurance cover it all. I can understand wanting to wait until your 2016 coverage begins to cap your co-pay at $500. That would be a beautiful thing.
Have you talked with your doctor about waiting? You doctor will consider more than viral load (VL) to make that decision. Prior to starting treatment in July, my VL was 1.1m, and my husband was less than half that. But he's positive for cirrhosis, and I'm not. So VL isn't the whole story.
Just my humble opinion, but I'd encourage you to have this discussion with your doctor. Hopefully all will be well with waiting.
All the best to you,
Penny
wmlj1960 said
Oct 16, 2015
Hi justaguy.
Welcome to the forum. I'm covered on a very different status here in AR so I'm afraid I don't have answers for you concerning copay etc. but we have several other knowledgeable members that will be along to welcome you as well and you'll likely get some answers from them based on their experiences. We have several members who have been treated or are currently treating with Harvoni, myself included. We have a thread dedicated to members treating with Harvoni that can be found here:
Have a look around the site and notice the 'Search' function button in the top center of the page in order to find previous discussions on any topic you have questions about. If you don't see what your looking for simply start a new thread on the subject. You'll likely see some abbreviations you are not familiar with, especially in member signatures, so for information on signatures and a link to 'Forum Abbreviations' click the following link:
I'm glad you will be starting treatment soon and I wish you well with being able to live your future life Hep C free. We have a very friendly and caring group here who will be glad to help you in any way we can. So make yourself at home. We're glad you're here!
justaguy said
Oct 16, 2015
I am just about to start Harvoni in California, but still haven't been told by Kaiser what it's going to cost (I'm on the silver marketplace plan). Based on my research this morning it seems that, in 2016, my out of pocket cost for Harvoni will be capped at $250 a month, so I would only pay $500 for an 8 week regimen. I think it will save me quite a bit of money, my viral load is only 158k so it seems prudent to wait till the new year begins to start treatment. Any thoughts? Here's a link to the coveredca article, correct me if I am not interpreting it correctly please.
Hi justaguy, welcome!
I can`t give you any help with your prescription question, but you would qualify for an 8 week tx duration with your low viral load, as long as this is your first treatment for Hep C and you don`t have cirrhosis. Having said that, it would be best to be guided by your doctor as far as tx duration is concerned.
If you wanted to wait until the new year then I`m sure a few months won`t make any difference to your health, although after having the infection since 1986 you almost certainly have some degree of fibrosis.
Best of luck with whichever way you go, Harvoni is an excellent treatment with very high success rates.
Welcome justaguy, this is a great forum. You're right, this stuff is a real load of crap. :)
Glad to hear you are about to get started. Any chance you might get 12 rather than 8 weeks tx? Gives additional assurance you will find SVR. You should check with the Harvoni support path: http://www.gilead.com/responsibility/us-patient-access/support%20path%20for%20sovaldi%20and%20harvoni to see if they might provide assistance. It's a toll free call. Good luck with this. The search function on the forum is a useful tool. Be well.
Thanks for the warm welcomes and replies everyone!
Hi justaguy,
Welcome to the forum. You'll find lots of great information here. I can't add anything about co-pays, as I was blessed to have my retiree insurance cover it all. I can understand wanting to wait until your 2016 coverage begins to cap your co-pay at $500. That would be a beautiful thing.
Have you talked with your doctor about waiting? You doctor will consider more than viral load (VL) to make that decision. Prior to starting treatment in July, my VL was 1.1m, and my husband was less than half that. But he's positive for cirrhosis, and I'm not. So VL isn't the whole story.
Just my humble opinion, but I'd encourage you to have this discussion with your doctor. Hopefully all will be well with waiting.
All the best to you,
Penny
Hi justaguy.
Welcome to the forum. I'm covered on a very different status here in AR so I'm afraid I don't have answers for you concerning copay etc. but we have several other knowledgeable members that will be along to welcome you as well and you'll likely get some answers from them based on their experiences. We have several members who have been treated or are currently treating with Harvoni, myself included. We have a thread dedicated to members treating with Harvoni that can be found here:
All aboard for the "Harvoni" Treatment Train , Enjoy the Ride for 8,12 or 24 weeks
Have a look around the site and notice the 'Search' function button in the top center of the page in order to find previous discussions on any topic you have questions about. If you don't see what your looking for simply start a new thread on the subject. You'll likely see some abbreviations you are not familiar with, especially in member signatures, so for information on signatures and a link to 'Forum Abbreviations' click the following link:
Forum Abbreviations Link and Help with Creating your Signature
I'm glad you will be starting treatment soon and I wish you well with being able to live your future life Hep C free. We have a very friendly and caring group here who will be glad to help you in any way we can. So make yourself at home. We're glad you're here!
I am just about to start Harvoni in California, but still haven't been told by Kaiser what it's going to cost (I'm on the silver marketplace plan). Based on my research this morning it seems that, in 2016, my out of pocket cost for Harvoni will be capped at $250 a month, so I would only pay $500 for an 8 week regimen. I think it will save me quite a bit of money, my viral load is only 158k so it seems prudent to wait till the new year begins to start treatment. Any thoughts? Here's a link to the coveredca article, correct me if I am not interpreting it correctly please.
http://www.coveredca.com/individuals-and-families/getting-covered/prescription-drugs/
Thanks!
I've had this crap since 1986.