“PrEP” stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. The word “prophylaxis” means “to prevent or control the spread of an infection or disease”
PrEP is a medication for people who don’t have Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and want to reduce their risk of getting HIV before an exposure through sex or sharing needles/syringes.
PrEP contains medicines that are also used to treat HIV
There are different types of PrEP and ways to take it:
PrEP is covered by public (e.g. Medi-Cal, Medi-Care) and private (e.g. Kaiser, Anthem, HealthNet) health insurance plans.
Most major health insurance plans in California are required to cover oral PrEP medications and associated medical services (lab work and clinic visits) with no cost sharing to the patient.
Note: Injectable PrEP is still not fully required to be covered by private insurance plans. Please contact your local PrEP Center of Excellence to learn more about covering injectable PrEP with your private insurance plan. Injectable PrEP is coveredby Medi-Cal and can be accessed for free for people who are uninsured.
If you do not have, or are not eligible for health insurance, PrEP is still available at low or no cost. Immigration status does not prevent you from accessing these services.
The PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP AP) is the State of California’s assistance program for the prevention of HIV. It covers things like co-pays for PrEP, medications for STI treatment (and even for PrEP under certain conditions) and other out of pocket costs related to medical services, such as HIV testing and STI screening. To learn more about PrEP AP, please visit: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DOA/Pages/OA_adap_resources_prepAP.aspt
The Ready-Set-PrEP Federal Program will also cover the cost of name brand oral medications for people who have no insurance. To learn more about Ready-Set-PrEP, please visit: https://readysetprep.hiv.gov/
Any licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant can prescribe PrEP. If you have a provider that you see regularly, talk to them about prescribing PrEP.
If you do not currently have a medical provider, you can find one here: pleasePrEPme.org
Please note that the inclusion of medical providers in this directory is voluntary and it does not serve as an endorsement or certification by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health.
If you are interested in speaking with a medical provider to see if PrEP is right for you, try speaking with your primary care provider first. Check out these tips on talking to your doctor.
If you wish to see a different medical provider, you can find one here: pleasePrEPme.org.
Under California’s new law, Senate Bill 159, pharmacists are authorized to dispense PrEP and PEP without a prescription, this allows them to administer 30 to 60 days of the drugs after testing and counseling. In addition, the law directs pharmacists to connect individuals to physicians for long-term care.
You’ll have to take an HIV test before starting PrEP to make sure you do not have HIV.
People who use PrEP to reduce their risk of HIV must be able to take the medication as prescribed and instructed.
While you are on PrEP, you will need to see a health care provider for regular check-ups (every 3 months for oral PrEP or every 2 months for injectable PrEP) for repeat HIV/STI screenings, lab tests, and prescription refills.
Condoms provide additional protection against HIV and otherSTIsand pregnancy. If you live in Los Angeles County and would like to find free condoms, please visit our LA Condom website. Teenagers can have condoms mailed to them by visiting https://www.teensource.org/
