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If you are cured of Hepatitis C is it still a pre existing condition?

I successfully went through treatment for Hepatitis C and a found SVR through Harvoni going forward is this considered a pre existing condition insurance wise?  I would hate for this to follow me and hinder being able to get insurance? Thank god for Obama care I was able to treat now with this current political climat I am afraid this might hurt me in the future.  If anyone knows how this works can you help me understand?  Thank you
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475555 tn?1469304339
I'll bet there are no precedents. What you would have to do is apply for insurance, admit that you had hep-c but were cured, and see what happens. If they turn you down, sue them and establish a legal precedent.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Medication is only one part of an effective treatment plan for hepatitis C (or hep C, also known as HCV, for hepatitis C virus). Though it may seem insignificant compared to the powerful medicines you may be taking for HCV, your lifestyle plays a role in your treatment, as well. This means that making some changes to your everyday habits — including regular exercise in your usual routine, learning how to reduce your stress — just may make a difference in your treatment. Here are eight basic, but important, suggestions that will help you feel your best while getting treated for — and hopefully cured of — your hep C.



1. Follow Your Treatment Plan
This is the most important thing you can do to help make your hep C treatment go smoothly. “Once the patient is on treatment, the compliance is very important,” says Hwan Yoo, MD, a liver specialist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. Don’t miss any doses, and try to take the medications at the same time every day.

Don’t miss your follow-up appointments, either. These tell you and your specialist how well the virus is responding and, at the same time, give you the chance to address any concerns about your treatment, Yoo adds.

If you find it hard to follow your treatment plan, speak with your specialist to get help.



2. Be (or Stay) Physically Active
Moving your body is an important part of being healthy, and it’s no different if you have hep C. Exercise may not be easy at first, especially if you’re feeling tired or weak, but by starting slowly, you can build up your strength while helping your body heal.

Physical activity may help you in other ways. Exercise can reduce depression and anxiety, relieve stress, ease insomnia and encourage your appetite (which may dip because of medication-induced nausea). Also, being active may help you lose weight, which can improve your liver health if you’re overweight.



3. Get Enough Rest
Sleep helps revitalize your body and aids in healing from just about any illness, hep C included. Unfortunately, both the virus and its treatment may affect your ability to sleep. If you’re experiencing insomnia, speak with your specialist about it. In the meantime, here are some common tips to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.



4. Eat Well
There’s no specific hep C diet but eating well — that means plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains instead of processed ones, and lean meats like chicken and fish — helps you stay healthier overall. A nutritious diet can even lead to a liver that functions better and is less likely to develop scarring (cirrhosis) as a result of your hep C infection. You should avoid fatty, salty and sugary foods, too, since they can make your liver have to work harder to keep your body free of toxins.

If you think you need help to change the way you eat, see a nutritionist. This can be particularly helpful if you experience the nausea or lack of appetite associated with some hep C drugs.



5. Stop Drinking and Smoking
Don’t drink alcohol while you’re on hep C treatment. Alcohol is broken down in your liver, which is already physically stressed because of both the virus and the treatment. The virus could also cause more damage to your liver if you smoke. Plus, quitting benefits your overall health, too.



6. Manage Stress
Keeping your mental stress under control may seem easier said than done, especially when you’re on treatment for a serious illness. Yet it’s an essential part of helping yourself and deserves your focus. Stress takes a toll on the body, and when you’re going through treatment, you want to minimize those effects. Some people have success with taking up a new hobby or going to the gym more regularly. Others learn specific techniques, such as mindfulness meditation or a breathing practice. Check out these 5 quick ideas for stress reduction.

If anxiety and stress start to feel overwhelming, see a counselor or therapist.



7. Get Vaccinated
Carol Peters, NP, a nurse practitioner in the Liver Research Institute at Banner University Medical Center Tucson, AZ, encourages her patients to make sure they’ve been vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B before starting treatment for hep C. “Hepatitis A and B are preventable viruses, so they might as well be protected. They don’t need another virus [affecting their liver].”

If you’re not sure if you've been vaccinated for hepatitis B (hep B) before, make sure you get tested: The hep C drugs known as direct-acting antivirals or DAAs can sometimes cause a flare-up, or reactivation, of hep B. So knowing your hep B status is crucial.

Because of the pressure hep C puts on your health, you should also get a regular flu shot (that means every fall or winter, before flu season starts), and stay current on the adult whooping cough and tetanus vaccine, known as Tdap (after the first dose, you need a booster every decade).

Depending on your treatment medications and how long it’s been since your diagnosis, your specialist may want to give you the pneumococcal vaccines. There are two types; talk with your specialist to determine which is the better option for you.



8. Ask for Help and Support
Because of some of the ways in which hep C is spread, there has been stigma attached to the diagnosis. If this makes you hesitate to share your hep C status with family members and trusted friends, remember that this condition has affected people from all walks of life, and that support from loved ones could be key to your treatment success. Don’t be ashamed to share what you’re going through.

You can also join an online support group, like MedHelp's Hepatitis C Community, to meet other people who know what it’s like.



Treatment for hepatitis C affects your whole body — not just your blood and your liver. By taking care of yourself in other ways, you’re giving your body the best possible chance for a cure.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was treated in 2010 for Hep C level 1 cirrous of liver.  But 3-4 years prior, I've been a 2 times a week donor at the local plasma center and also a meth addict that slammed it 4 times a week or more. needless to say, they after 9 months or so pulled me into the back room and said i had a unknown blood disease and that I was banned for life, and told to see a doctor right away. Took an aids test only to find out it was Hep C. and yes,  only it can come back or come out of remission. Doctor said to eliminate any stress in life and for me to not drink alcohol ever. or take the chance that it could come back  if I was living a drink/drug lifestyle again.  Hope this helps
Helpful - 0
6708370 tn?1471490210
But one cannot give blood, right?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Probably not. I don’t think they will take the time and money to test for HCV RNA to know we are cured plus the problem of keeping our donations separated and not used until a not detected result comes back. Just not practical.

I suppose if you are going to have a surgery performed you could have draws done before hand to donate to yourself
6708370 tn?1471490210
Good question! I recently renewed my drivers license and changed the Donor option but was told that since I had previously opted to be donor, I wouldn't change it without a lot of hassle.I would love to donate blood and organs but is this possible now? IDTS
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
From what I understand they can still use our organ donations and we can still donate.

Say a person who is like us cured but antibody positive. They wouldn’t want my liver too banged up but my kidneys are fine and corneas etc
683231 tn?1467323017
I am thinking you don't have a condition as you don’t have Hepatitis C. You used to have Hepatitis C but you don’t have it now.

Say for example if you are currently pregnant and apply for insurance it would be a preexisting condition. But after the baby is born you are no longer pregnant and that would not be a preexisting condition any longer.

I know this is an older post just throwing my two cents in.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
You had hep C.   You don’t have hep C.  I won’t even bring it up.  It doesn’t apply anymore.
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