Is Hepatitis C Curable? Treatments and Outlook

Hepatitis C is a curable disease. After decades of being dubbed “the silent killer,” the hepatitis C virus can now be detected easily in a clinic or pharmacy near you. And in many cases, it can be cured with new medications called direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C, or hep C, is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. It passes from person to person through contact with blood that has the virus. Most people who come in contact with the virus develop chronic hepatitis C. Chronic hepatitis C can slowly destroy the liver and cause liver failure if it’s not treated. It can also cause a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma.

Can hepatitis C be cured?

Yes, hepatitis C is now curable. 

New medications called DAAs can cure hepatitis C in most patients. This means people can avoid complications, like liver failure and liver cancer. 

But, there is a catch: These drugs are expensive and accessing them can be complicated.

What are the new hep C medications?

In the past, treatment for hepatitis C included interferon, a medication with many unpleasant side effects and risks. Also, the cure rates were not that great either. But new treatments for hep C are all “interferon-free.” This means that they have fewer side effects. 

The new medications to treat hepatitis C are known as direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies. These medications work by blocking proteins that normally help the hepatitis C virus to replicate. Some of the most commonly used DAAs for treating hepatitis C are: 

• Harvoni

• Epclusa

• Mavyret

Along with having fewer side effects than interferon-based treatments, DAAs also: 

• Have shorter treatment lengths (8 to 12 weeks)

• Can be taken by mouth

• Are taken once a day

• Have high cure rates (95% to 100%)

How much do the new hep C medications cost?

DAAs are expensive. Their average cash prices typically start at more than $10,000 for a month’s supply. Many people may pay less using their insurance and/or various assistance programs. 

But, hepatitis C treatment is covered by most insurance plans. So for many people, the most cost-effective way of getting it will be through insurance. But even then, you may face restrictions — such as prior authorization or step therapy — before you can get your preferred medication. 

If DAAs are not covered by your insurance, ask your healthcare provider about an appeal. The exact process will depend on your insurance provider.

You can also save money with manufacturer copay cards and patient assistance programs. Manufacturer copay cards help you afford your expensive medications by lowering your out-of-pocket costs. When you use a copay card, the manufacturer will pay some or all of the medication costs not covered by your insurance (commercial or private). If you have government health insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare, you are not eligible for the program. 

That said, some examples of copay savings programs for hep C treatment include:

• Harvoni copay coupon program

• Epclusa copay coupon program

• Mavyret savings card

If you have low income or are uninsured, patient assistance programs can help you get your medication for little to no cost. But, you will need your prescriber’s help to fill out the forms and apply. Gilead Support Path and AbbVie both offer patient assistance programs to help people afford the cost of hep C medications, like Mavyret, Harvoni, and Epclusa.

Always make sure to talk with your healthcare provider about your options. You may be able to save money by taking generic instead of brand-name medication, or by filling a 90-day supply instead of a 30-day supply.

What other medications can treat hepatitis C?

There are some other — equally effective — hep C treatments. But you may need to do additional blood testing upfront and take more than 1 tablet per day. These hep C medications include:

• Zepatier 

• Viekira 

• Vosevi

Another hepatitis C medication that is sometimes added to DAA treatment is Virazole (Ribavarin).

What is the best hepatitis C treatment for me?

All the DAAs work really well. There is a high cure rate no matter which medication you take. The best hepatitis C treatment for you depends on:

• Whether or not you have been treated for hepatitis C in the past 

• The specific type of hepatitis C you have (called the genotype)

• Your health history

• Cost and availability of the medication

How can I be sure my hep C is cured?

A healthcare provider can make sure your hepatitis C is cured using a blood test. About 12 weeks after you finish treatment, you’ll have a blood test to measure how much hepatitis C virus is in your blood. If there’s no virus in your blood, this is called a “sustained virologic response” or SVR for short. If you have an SVR, you are most likely cured. Studies show us that 98% to 99% of patients with an SVR at 12 weeks are permanently cured of hepatitis C. 

So, to be clear: New hepatitis C treatments cure hepatitis C more than 95% of the time. And a simple blood test 12 weeks after you finish treatment will confirm that this is the case.

I’ve had hep C treatment before, but it didn’t work. Can I still be cured?

If you’ve had treatment for hep C before and it didn’t work, don’t despair. The new treatments we talked about here still have great cure rates (more than 95%) — even if older treatments didn’t work for you. The choice of treatment will depend on what you’ve already tried, what other medications you currently take (if any), and — as always — cost and availability.

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Written by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

Edited by:

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC

Samvida Patel, MNSP, INHC, is a health editor at GoodRx. She is a nutritionist and integrative nutrition health coach with over 8 years of experience in health communications.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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