Long-term Survivorship Costs Us (red-dux)

[robertincleveland]

I am a 20+ year survivor living with AIDS.
This is a double-edged blessing in that I am still here yet all of my contemporaries are dead.
It has cost the Government/Medicare, well-over $160,000.00 dollars for my for 20-years of drug therapies. This doesn't include, dental and mental health appointments when available/accessible.

Since our leaders Washington D.C. are talking money, wouldn't it be best to talk about re-implementing HIV/AIDS re-education and prevention efforts?! Thus reducing the burden on Medicare and MedicAid?!

Simply multiply MY drug therapy costs by the current number of 20+ year survivors on an HIV drug regimen and then multiply that by the 54,000+ newly-infecetd population IF they live 20 years and choose drug treatment.
The figures are staggering and add to the deficit.

Why not save lives and money by implementing simple, scientifically proven ways to reduce or even prevent this preventable yet still terminal disease?!

Blessings of health to all.

I've readjusted MY treatment dollar amount  , sorry about that...I'm so bad at math!  
Thank you for correcting me.

[aztecan]

Hey Robert,

Edited to add: Yikes!  I forgot to welcome you aboard. Glad you have joined in! 

I agree more prevention efforts are needed. I would add that universal testing is also something that needs to be done - and not cutting of that mandatory testing at 64. People still have sex after 64.

I do wonder about your monetary figures though. I think $44.5 million is high for many of us.

Some have needed more healthcare than others. But, just based on my experience, I think the total cost of my HIV-related healthcare would probably not exceed $300,000, or would be very close to that amount.

That includes 13 years of meds and 17 years of visits with the doctor and lab work. I didn't receive any treatment from 1985, when I tested positive, until 1992, when a friend talked me into seeing a doctor.

I know others have had much more involved care than I have and I am sure the costs would amount to more, but I also think $44.5 million would be on the high end for an individual.

Just my 2¢ worth.

HUGS,

Mark

[trai]

Not posted much in a while but as always reading all the forums. 

Anyhow...just taking the average cost of Atripla on the web at appox $1500.00 x 20 years x 12 months = $360,000.  This is not including labs, doctor visits, other medications etc....just the cost of the one drug.   Maybe my math is off, I was never any good in math.

Incidentally just started it a few days ago.

[aztecan]

Hey Robert,

I still think you have the right idea about prevention efforts needing to be enhanced.

I am a firm believer in harm prevention or reduction and I still believe in routine HIV testing for everyone.

At least it could help us catch people early and possibly prevent progression of HIV infection to advanced and much more costly stages.

Maybe, with President Obama in office, we may have a chance at getting some of that accomplished.

HUGS,

Mark