I almost named this entry something along the lines of "Get an HIV Test," but then I thought someone might read that and drop what they were doing to get one before they read the rest... and then it might be too late... of course, I may have been overestimating my power of persuasion.

On Friday I got back from Lancaster, PA, where I'd spent most of last week doing HIV Test Counselor training. I'm now certified to do HIV testing anywhere in the state of Pennsylvania and counsel about HIV prevention and test results. I'll type more about what all of this means another time.

My goal with this entry is to raise awareness of something that I'd never heard about until this week.  Young people in particular are risking future insurance coverage when they try to be responsible and do the right thing.

When a person gets an HIV test from their doctor, and their insurance (including parents' insurance) is used to pay for the test, the results become a permanent fixture on their medical record - whether positive or negative.

Why should this matter?

It could potentially affect your ability to get health and life insurance in the future. Even if you have a negative result that would still work against you as an insurer would see the fact that you got the test in the first place as a sign of risky behavior. The reason for the test isn't on your medical record so it's not really relevant as far as they're concerned.

People need to be wise.  Pregnant women, those applying for a passport, even people getting a routine physical... all of these could be reasons for having an HIV test and it's a common practice for doctors to include them with all the other tests they'll already be running. It's the patient's responsibility to make sure they're not signing approval for such a test and if there's a question about it, it needs to be addressed right away.

And what if you need the test?

Go to a state funded organization and take it there. It won't cost you anything - that's the state funded part - and the results won't be attached to your permanent medical record. As long as you're not testing anonymously, you can have a copy of the results that you can show to your doctor or whomever else is requiring you to take the test. What's more, you'll be offered counseling that you might not get in a doctor's office in the unfortunate event that you should test positive.  And if you test positive, most HIV/AIDS agencies will be able to advocate on your behalf to help you get the coverage you'll need, since that's almost certainly going to guarantee difficulty getting insured.

Get tested. If you have any question about your HIV status or you engage in potentially risky behavior, you owe it to yourself and those around you to find out. It's a quick and painless procedure that can bring a sense of relief and could potentially stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.