A cure for HIV would be one of the greatest medical achievements in modern history. But the day a cure is celebrated could also be the day some long-term survivors are told they no longer qualify for the benefits and services that have helped them stay alive.
In our work with long-term survivors, community advisory boards, and discussions about a cure, we have heard a recurring concern that deserves far more policy attention: What if a cure — or durable control, where the virus remains in the body, but at such low levels that it doesn’t cause problems and cannot be transmitted — is treated as proof that support for patients is no longer needed? That fear comes from people who want a cure, but are also wary about what can happen when administrative systems move faster than common sense.