• Most of the time it's your choice whether you tell others that you have hepatitis
• Sometimes you must tell people that you have, or have had hepatitis
• For example, you need to tell people when giving blood and getting some kinds of insurance

Most of the time it is your choice whether you tell someone that you have hepatitis. Below are the times you must tell people that you have, or have had hepatitis:

When you give blood

You can't give blood products if you have hepatitis B. You can't give blood products if you have ever had hepatitis C, even if you no longer have it. Before you give blood, you will need to fill out a form with your details. It will ask if you've ever had hepatitis B or hepatitis C. You must answer honestly.

If you are a healthcare workers who carries out exposure-prone procedures (EPP)

An EPP is when you work with sharp instruments or exposed tissues, such as bone or teeth, and you can’t always see your hands or fingers are inside the patient’s body.

Most healthcare workers do not carry out EPPs. Most EPPs involve surgery, and they are common in dental work. You can find a list of EPPs on the Department of Health website.

Healthcare workers who do carry out EPPs must get tested regularly for hepatitis B and hepatitis C (as well as HIV). If you have hepatitis B or C and carry out EPPs, you should read the national guidelines on the Department of Health website.

When you apply for insurance

If you want to get insurance you might have to tell them about your hepatitis B or hepatitis C. You might need to do this for:

• life insurance
• travel insurance
• trauma insurance
• permanent disability insurance
• superannuation insurance
• income protection insurance. 

The reason you need to tell them about your health is because it can change:

• whether or not they decide to insure you
• the terms and conditions (such as cost) of your insurance

If you do not tell them, they can cancel your contract if you need to make a claim.

If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, your insurance may not cover conditions that you already have, such as hepatitis. You can find out more on the Australian Government Private Health website.

People in the Australian Defence Force

If you are a member of the Australian Defence Force (including the Navy, Army and Air Force) and you have hepatitis B or C, you must tell them. Some people can stay in the defence force if they have hepatitis B or C. But others may have to leave. This will depend on your role. You will have to get tested if you apply to join the Australian Defence Force.

When applying for a visa to live in Australia

You have to answer questions about your health when you apply to live in Australia. If you are not honest about your health it can affect your visa.

Some people may need a hepatitis B test when they apply to live in Australia. You can read more about who needs to have a test on the Department of Home Affairs website.

The Department of Home Affairs will look at how much your treatment will cost. For most people with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, this should not affect your visa.

Donating organs and sperm

You will need to get tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C before donating sperm or organs. 

Donating organs

Organs are checked to see if they are okay for transplantation. Organs are tested to see if there is a chance of spreading viruses that spread through the blood such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Some people with hepatitis B or hepatitis C can donate, but others can't.

Donating sperm

Clinics where you donate sperm will test for hepatitis B and C. Most of the time you can't donate sperm if you have hepatitis B or hepatitis C. The only time you can is when it's for you and your partner.

What about partners and family members?

If you have hepatitis B or C, it is your choice which friends and family you tell. It's a good idea to tell people that may have come in contact with the virus. This is so they can get tested and take medicine if needed. If you don't want to tell them yourselves, you can ask your doctor let them know.

Find out more about hepatitis B

Find out more about stopping the spread of hepatitis C

For people with hepatitis B

Although most people get hepatitis B at birth, there are other ways you can get it. You can get hepatitis B through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex. There are laws in each state and territory about what you must do if you have sex when you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI). If you want to find out more about the laws in your area, talk to a community legal centre.

If you have hepatitis B, there are things you should do to make sure your partner doesn't get it. It is very unlikely they will get hepatitis B if you have sex with a condom. Your partner can also protect themselves by getting a vaccine for hepatitis B.

It's a good idea to tell people you live with that you have hepatitis B so they can:

• learn how to lower their chance of coming into contact with the virus
• get tested for hepatitis B
• protect themselves by getting a vaccine

If you have shared injecting equipment with someone, you should think about telling them. This means they can also get tested for hepatitis B.

For people with hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C is very unlikely to spread through sex. But there is a chance of it spreading through unprotected anal sex and sex during menstruation. If you have anal sex without a condom, or other sexual practices where blood may be present, you should think about telling the other person that you have hepatitis C. If you have shared injecting equipment with someone, you should think about telling them. This means they can also get tested for hepatitis C.

You can also read our tips for telling others you have hepatitis.

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References

I had hepatitis - can I donate? Australian Red Cross

CDNA National Guidelines for healthcare workers on managing bloodborne viruses. Department of Health and Aged Care

Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Federal Register of Legislation

Overseas Visitors & Overseas Students. PrivateHealth.gov.au

Clinical and ethical guidelines for organ transplantation. Donate life, Organ and Tissue Authority

Ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology. NHMRC

Guide to Australian HIV Laws and Policies for Healthcare Professionals. ASHM

What You Need To Know: a guide to hepatitis C (booklet). Hepatitis NSW

Page updated 10 November 2022