Hep C in Alberta Canada

Thank you all for being here hoping to get some advice or direction or a good swift kick.....I was diagnosed hep c genotype 2 dec 18th 2014. 5,000,000 viral load......fibroscan said maybe 1. Dr. said very new......I am 51 and just caught the virus within the last year. I have two health plans......and the hep c clinic used the blue cross to get interferon/ribavirin. Somehow we missed the momentum plan offered through Gilead. And my Manulife wasn't touched. Week five......the side effects of this treatment is horrible......I am so sick......depressed......you name it. I have been put on anti depressants, and today finally I got signed up for the gilead momentum program and after talking to Manulife I had to fill out a prior authorization for sovaldi to see if they decide to cover it. Well now I have been told that they will only cover up to 900 per calendar year? Has anyone had to fight with Manulife? I am just so fed up, and at this point just don't know what to do or where to turn. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Sick and Tired...what a mess...to be diagnosed with Hep C in the first generation where patients don't have to suffer for 40 years waiting for them to invent good meds and then have that carrot out there with no proper insurance coverage.

Did you go off the Interferon? It is awful. My partner took it for 6 months in 2003 and he still talks about how awful he felt. But some here have been successful, especially if they were not too sick...got it gone before they fell very ill.

I guess the good news is that there is a shake out with the insurance and the Canadian provinces and insurers are gradually changing their approach...offering better coverage. You have some time on your side. Mike had Hep C from 1969 until transplant in 2011 and then it came back right away in the new liver...and he is clear now. So, this will work out, I am sure of it.

Let us hear how this is going.

Mama Lama

I recently put up a post that coverage for Harvoni was added to the Alberta Drug Benefit List in early April of this year (approved for cost coverage). This means anyone on Blue Cross can now get funding. (not sure exactly how much is covered but it is usually at least 80 percent.) Until now it has mostly been the larger national insurance providers who would pay and only partially.

Realize this ... with this change the Hepatitis clinics and gastroenterologists and hepatologists are EXTREMELY BUSY!!

What was denied before is now being pproved. Check and check again and don't give up ... it's just around the corner for everyone.

welcome!!! and let me tell you what i heard from transplant coordinator last week... Type 1 Hep-c is covered by blue cross if you have cirrhosis level 2 or 3. Manulife in Canada had refused one of her patients but reversed the decision after the doctor got involved!! and if your coverage is only 80% the momentum program from havoni will cover the rest!!! So there is a light at the end of the tunnel!! on a personal note i would call the Momentum program from Harvoni and get the ball rolling.. you are your best advocate!!!

Its worth it!!! i have three friends that had type2 and are now clear of the sneaky little devil!!! i know its hard.. i did the old treatment and froze all the time,i was so *****y!!and everything set me off...stupid things..little things..made me so angry..but that treatment worked for my friends..but after three mths i was tested and my numbers were not changing... so they stopped it... I think you stand a good chance of beating Hep-c and i know its tough but i'm sure you can do it!! remember the pain is totally worth the gain!!!Please keep trying your not alone in this..if your feeling bad just come and spout off!! let those demons loose and feel better!! everyone in this forum will totally understand....