Hi Kim, so glad that you’re proactively reaching out to learn more about hep b and how to live successfully with it. Unfortunately, so many people find out when in school or during employee health physicals (which is how I was diagnosed 30 years ago!). But it sounds like at least you’re able to continue your medical studies? And you live in Australia so your health insurance is probably much better than here in the U.S.
In regards to life insurance here in the U.S., we have to be honest about having hep b because the companies will find out anyway since they require blood tests and physicals. Fortunately, the companies seem to be more progressive than 30 years ago when I couldn’t get life insurance because of my hep b. Last year, I qualified but had to pay double the premium than my husband paid who does not have hep b. But at least now I and other folks with hep b can at least get life insurance! If an person’s employer provides life insurance then it’s not a problem since a group life insurance policy provided to employers does not (usually) require individual medical exams or disclosures.
For health insurance, as long as a person is employed then health insurance is available to anyone. The problem is when a person doesn’t have health insurance through work or is self-employed. Although these folks can get health insurance, they may have to pay higher premiums because of their hep b. When President Obama was in office, his Affordable Care Act allowed people with known preexisting conditions like hep b to obtain health insurance - a real breakthrough for these folks!
For you Kim, however, if you’re training to be a medical doctor then I assume you be will be employed and have ready access to both health insurance and life insurance. But please let us know if you have other experiences or questions. Always, Joan