How much does it cost to treat HIV?

Many people in the United States and worldwide are HIV positive and living below the poverty line. Treatment for HIV/AIDS and the opportunistic infections that can accompany this virus is exceedingly expensive. In countries like Canada where there are government health plans and other sources of financial aid, HIV sufferers will receive treatment at low or little cost. In the United States, unless you have private health coverage, you will have to rely of Medicare or Medicaid. The Ryan White Program funds a variety of programs related to the treatment of HIV. The U.S. federal budget request for 2011 includes $20.5 billion for HIV and AIDS.