Hepatitis C is a liver disease that spreads through contact with infected blood. Treatment and medical benefits can be expensive, but there are programs and strategies that can help lower the cost.

Proper treatment can cure most cases of hepatitis C. But antiviral treatment can be expensive, especially if you have little to no health insurance coverage.

Here are some strategies you can use to help manage the costs of hepatitis C treatment.

It’s easier to manage the costs of treatment if you have health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance and you’re worried that you can’t afford it, you can check to see whether you might qualify for help to get insured.

You might be eligible for government-sponsored medical benefits depending on your:

  • health status
  • household composition
  • employment history
  • income

Here are some examples of government programs you may qualify for:

Medicare

If you have a disability or you’re over age 65 years, you might qualify for Medicare. To learn whether you’re eligible for this federal benefits program, use the eligibility and premium calculator at Medicare.gov.

Medicaid and subsidized insurance plans

If your income is below a certain level, you might qualify for your state’s Medicaid program. To learn about the eligibility criteria, visit your state’s Medicaid website. You can also find out more at Medicaid.gov.

If your income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but low enough that paying the full cost of insurance premiums is difficult, you may qualify for a subsidy. You can get more information at Healthcare.gov.

Health benefits for veterans

If you’re a veteran, you might be eligible for comprehensive medical benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For more information, visit the VA healthcare section of the VA website.

If you’re a spouse, dependent, or family caregiver of a veteran, you might also be able to receive medical benefits through the VA. To learn more, visit the family health benefits section of the VA website.

Some states might have additional programs to help people manage the costs of treating hepatitis C. Visit your state government’s website to learn about any potential programs.

If complications of liver disease have made it hard for you to meet your responsibilities at work, you might qualify for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. If you receive Social Security disability benefits for 2 years, you will also be enrolled in Medicare.

It can be challenging to navigate the disability benefits application process. Consider visiting a community legal services center in your area to find disability rights advocates or other professionals who can guide you through the process.

Many drug manufacturers have assistance programs to help uninsured and underinsured people afford the costs of medication. Consider contacting the manufacturer of your prescribed medication to learn whether you qualify for financial assistance.

You can use the Prescription Hope drug benefit program or RxAssist database to learn more about such programs. The American Liver Foundation also maintains a helpful list of pharmaceutical patient assistance programs specifically for hepatitis C.

Some nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations offer financial support to help people manage the costs of hepatitis C treatment. For example, you might qualify for one or more of the following:

  • copay, coinsurance, premium, or deductible assistance, if you have insurance
  • discounts on medication, with or without insurance coverage
  • travel support to help cover the costs of traveling for treatment
  • other types of financial support

To learn about some of the organizations that offer support to people with liver disease or hepatitis C, download a copy of the American Liver Foundation’s Financial Assistance Resources.

Before you receive treatment, ask your healthcare professional how much it will cost. If they don’t know, discuss how you can find out and which pharmacies may offer lower price options.

If you’re not happy with the price of a prescribed medication, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They might be willing to negotiate a lower price. They might also recommend another treatment plan that’s less expensive. Or they may have discount coupons or codes to use to reduce the price.

You can also contact other healthcare professionals and pharmacies to learn whether they offer the same treatment for less money. If you have health insurance, contact your insurance provider to learn which doctors are within your network of coverage. In-network treatment typically costs less than out-of-network services.

If you receive a bill that’s higher than you expected, contact your health insurance provider or your healthcare professional’s billing department. You might be able to negotiate a reduced price. You might also be able to set up a payment plan that allows you to pay your bill in installments.

To learn more about the cost of services in your area, consider visiting Healthcare Bluebook, which aims to provide transparent price comparisons.

Some clinics offer free or low cost care to people. Sometimes you may need to qualify for free or low cost services based on your income and other factors.

To find a free or low cost clinic in your area, consider using one of these resources:

Individual clinics can tell you about how to qualify, what services they offer, and any costs involved. For more information, contact a clinic directly.

If you’re willing to try an experimental treatment, you might be a good candidate for a clinical trial. By participating in a trial, you can receive experimental treatment for free. You might even receive a small payment for your participation.

To learn about the potential benefits and risks of participating in a trial, talk with a doctor. To look for clinical trials in your area, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

The financial costs of treating hepatitis C can be high. But you can try many strategies and resources to help manage the costs of care. Taking some time to learn about the resources that are available to you can give you a good idea of where to start and what your options are.