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Stalling Hepatitis C In-Between Health Coverage

March 10, 2009

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Many with Hepatitis C are finding themselves between jobs, and thus without healthcare. Until their health coverage woes turn around, these two simple strategies can help stall Hepatitis C from inflicting liver damage in the interim.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Healthcare for chronic Hepatitis C is suffering from our economy’s recent decline. Whether without health insurance or unable to afford co-payments, the expensive care for Hepatitis C can be harder than ever to obtain. However, people can delay further damage from Hepatitis C during a lapse of health coverage. Avoiding alcohol and supplementing with milk thistle helps minimize the damage done by this virus. Until health insurance can be reinstated or supervised medical treatment can be otherwise financed, these two non-pharmaceutical, cost-effective tactics can help the liver defend against Hepatitis C’s constant assault.

Healthcare is one of the top social and economic problems facing Americans today. The majority of Americans (59-61 percent) have health insurance through their employer. Unfortunately, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a growing army of unemployed American adults with the unemployment rate at a 16-year high of 7.2 percent.

An estimated 50 million Americans currently live without health insurance, and of those who are employed and do have health coverage, an estimated 25 million are underinsured. Just as unemployment rates leave more people without affordable health insurance, the financial burden of healthcare for those with coverage is also rising. Many who have health insurance also struggle to pay their healthcare bills. Rising healthcare premiums, deductibles and steep co-payments, as well as limits on coverage for various services, or other limits and excluded services that can increase out-of-pocket expenses, all contribute to this problem. Thus, the inability to finance necessary medical care affects both the uninsured and the underinsured.

Even if a person with Hepatitis C has full health coverage, there are no guarantees. For starters, only about 50 percent of people with Hepatitis C genotype 1 (the most common variety in the U.S.) will successfully eliminate the virus with treatment. In addition, many insurance companies are putting limits on the therapy they will approve based upon the patient’s genotype – not based on the doctor’s recommendations. For more information about this growing trend, read Hepatitis C Genotype Guides Health Plans.

Although the economic crunch exacerbates the high price tag of Hepatitis C treatment, there is tremendous hope for the future. In all stages of development, hundreds of clinical trials are unraveling Hepatitis C’s mysteries, and finding innovative ways to beat this virus without compromising the infected person’s health.

For the underinsured, uninsured or those denied Hepatitis C treatment by a health carrier, there is a way to temporarily maintain the liver’s status quo. Pending therapy being financed or the approval of a more effective Hepatitis C drug cocktail, the liver can be protected by:

1. Avoiding Alcohol – Because alcohol exponentially accelerates the virus’ ability to damage and kill liver cells, abstaining from drinking alcohol is critical for prolonging the health of those with Hepatitis C.

2. Milk Thistle – Although it doesn’t kill the Hepatitis C virus, scientific evidence shows that high quality milk thistle protects the liver by promoting the growth of new liver cells, strengthening liver cell walls to resist damage and inhibiting inflammation.

By keeping your liver as healthy and resilient as possible, the Hepatitis C virus will be thwarted in its attempts at harm. Skipping alcohol and supplementing with milk thistle is not a solution for getting rid of Hepatitis C. However, combining these strategies can help you ride out the economic storm, or wait for the arrival of an improved (and affordable) course of treatment.

References:

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/infections/
hepatitis/071.html, Hepatitis C, Retrieved January 14, 2009, American Academy of Family Physicians, 2009.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/, CAM and Hepatitis C: A Focus on Herbal Supplements, Retrieved January 14, 2009, National Institutes of Health, 2009.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_he_me/meltdown_supplement_sales
;_ylt=AvzLPe41yC5bxKThV0.BvDhZ24cA, With economy sour, consumers sweet on herbal meds, Lindsey Tanner, Retrieved January 14, 2009, The Associated Press, January 2009.

http://www.cpmc.org/learning/documents/hepatitisc-ws.html#How%20Much%20
will%20the%20Treatment%20Cost?, Frequently Asked Questions About Hepatitis C, Retrieved January 14, 2009, California Pacific Medical Center, 2009.

http://www.healthcareproblems.org/health-care-statistics.htm, Health Care Statistics, Retrieved January 15, 2009, HealthCareProblems.org, 2009.

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/12/health_plans_gu.html, Hepatitis C Genotype Guides Health Plans, Angela Mass, Retrieved January 16, 2009, Natural Wellness, December 2008.

http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/healthmc.htm, Health Insurance and the States, Retrieved January 15, 2009, National Conference of State Legislatures, January 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/business/economy/10jobs.html?hp, Jobless Rate Hits 7.2%, a 16-Year High, Louis Uchitelle, Retrieved January 15, 2009, The New York Times, January 9, 2009.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/indepth_coverage/health/uninsured/how
weareinsured.html, The Uninsured in America, Leah Clapman, Retrieved January 16, 2009, MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, April 2007.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201155652.htm, Alternative Medicine Use For Hepatitis C: Silymarin (Milk Thistle) Does Not Affect Virus Activity Or ALT Levels, Survey Suggests, Retrieved January 14, 2009, ScienceDaily LLC, February 2008.

Posted by Editors at March 10, 2009 4:25 PM