Preserving Benefits

Some people living with HIV disease may be in bad financial shape. In general, if the person is covered by a good health insurance program and has put away some money into savings, then finances won’t be a major problem.

Some people living with HIV disease may be in bad financial shape. In general, if the person is covered by a good health insurance program and has put away some money into savings, then finances won’t be a major problem. For people who have few resources, however, things will be quite different.

For everyone, the primary financial concern will be maintaining a job with its income and its benefits. A good benefits package will include not only coverage for physician visits and medical procedures, but also broad coverage for prescription drugs.

Also important for HIV disease (as well as for cancer, heart disease and other long-term illnesses) is coverage for home health care and extended-care facilities. HIV disease usually means a series of illnesses of varying severity. Many of these illnesses require medication and monitoring but not full-time hospital care. It is better for the person to receive treatment at home, with periodic visits by a home care aide, nurse or therapist, than to be confined in a hospital.

Another type of extended-care coverage that is also extremely helpful is hospice care. Hospice care is a specialized service, either in the person’s home or in a special residence, that allows the person to live as fully as possible during the last stages of illness. Hospice care is less focused on medical treatment than on the person’s quality of living.