Medications

Since 1981, there has been a continuous effort to learn more about how the HIV virus does its damage. Along with this research has come a series of experimental medicines. That’s the good news. However, when a new medicine is developed and has finished its basic testing, it is placed on the market as an "experimental drug." It generally takes several months after the testing for the medicine to be given final approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Until a medicine is given final approval, medical insurance will not cover it and the patient must pay for it out of pocket. That’s the bad news.

While some of these medicines are relatively cheap, others, especially the more complex ones, can be prohibitively expensive. The prescription charges can mount up quickly. In some cases, these costs can run from $8,000 to $24,000 per year. If the person’s doctor prescribes the experimental medicine, then the individual either has to pay for it out of pocket or not take the drug. As steward, it is important for you to understand this and not simply assume that all medical expenses are being taken care of by health insurance.