Hepatitis and Health Insurance:

If you are suffering from hepatitis and you are interested in getting a health insurance policy, there are specific things that you will need to look for to make sure that you will get the type of coverage you need. Pre-existing conditions can make it difficult to get health insurance, but they don't have to make it impossible.

Understand the Different Types of Hepatitis

Hepatitis A - This type of hepatitis may be the most common, and fortunately, the shortest lived type of the disease. It is usually contracted orally, when food is contaminated with fecal matter. You can only get Hepatitis A once, and shortly after infection, your body produces antibodies to fight the disease. Health insurance options for people with existing Hepatitis A may be limited, but due to the short lived nature, you should be able to get health insurance once you have recovered.

Hepatitis B - Hepatitis B is also very common and can be transmitted sexually, through the sharing of intravenous needles, or through blood. Health care workers are at risk for developing Hepatitis B and a vaccine is generally recommended. This type of hepatitis may last for up to six months and may result in scarring of the liver. If you have Hepatitis B, you will need to disclose this to your insurance company. Since it is not long lasting, your insurance options will be greater.

Hepatitis C - This form of hepatitis is severe, and there is no vaccine currently available. Long term damage to the liver is quite common and it can be difficult to find an insurance policy that will provide coverage for this pre-existing condition. When shopping for a policy, you will need to make sure that visits to specialists will be covered, as well as necessary medications. Alternative therapies have been shown to help Hepatitis C sufferers, but may not be covered by insurance policies.

Hepatitis D - This type of hepatitis can only occur if you already have Hepatitis B. You will need to make sure that your insurance policy will cover the preventative measures to ensure that you do not contract Hepatitis D if you currently suffer from Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis E - Hepatitis E is not common in the United States, and therefore, many insurance companies may not provide coverage for a pre-existing condition. If you plan on traveling, it is a good idea to check with the CDC to see if the region you will be visiting has a known prevalence of Hepatitis E.

The number one concern for people with the pre-existing condition of hepatitis is that proper and adequate care will be covered by their insurance company. Medications and treatments can be expensive and it is important to find an insurance policy that will be able to meet your needs. In addition, the ability to see specialists should be included, whether you have an HMO or a PPO type plan. New advances are common in the field of treating hepatitis and you will need to have access to specialists who will be able to help you.

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