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My son has been diagnosed with Hep C, with very high viral load.
 
 
Dear Dr. Chung,
 
 
 
My son has been diagnosed with Hep C, with very high viral load. However, he is B2 genotype. His doctor doesn't think the insurance will pay for Pegalayted Interferon w/riberon, because he thinks they reserve the that medicine for very serious cases (not B2, which respond to the earlier types of medicines). Does this fear make sense? I have been telling my son that PegInterferon w/riberon was the best medicine for him. The support group here told me that if he has to take the older type interferon, he should inject it every day, rather than 3 times a week.
 
Please advise.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Dr Chung Writes-  
 
 
He can take for genotype 2, the older Rebetron, as it is equally effective as PEGIFN + ribavirin. Some insurance companies will not cover cost of PEGIFN + riba and only cover rebetron. this is a reasonable policy.
 
 
 
  RC      
 
 
 
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