Start With Your Situation
Six starting points — pick the one that describes you and jump straight to the pathway that fits. Every card links down to the detailed section below.
Start HereHow to Use This Page
HIV medications are among the most expensive drugs in the world — and also among the most supported by assistance programs. Whether you're uninsured, underinsured, on Medicare, or facing a coverage gap, assistance may be available, depending on the medication, program rules, and funding. This page covers three tiers of assistance, plus a fourth pathway most patients never hear about.
Tier 1 — Manufacturer Programs: Free-drug PAPs and commercial copay cards have separate eligibility rules. Some PAPs accept qualifying Medicare patients; do not assume a copay-card exclusion also excludes a free-drug application.[6]
Tier 2 — Independent Foundations: Charitable funds may help eligible insured patients, including people on Medicare. Check each fund’s covered costs, financial criteria, and current availability.[11]
Tier 3 — Navigation Tools: Free search tools and directories that help you find programs you may not know about, compare drug prices, and identify co-pay cards for any medication.
Tier 4 — 340B Drug Pricing Program: Eligible, registered clinics and hospitals can purchase discounted outpatient drugs. Ask your clinic how its pharmacy services affect your costs.[24]
If you have Medicaid: Manufacturer commercial copay cards exclude government coverage, but other assistance has program-specific rules. Start with your plan and case manager to address a denied or unaffordable prescription.[5][9]
Quick ReferenceFind Your Medication's Assistance Program
Know your drug? Find it here. Each row links directly to the program that covers it.
| Brand Name | Components | Maker | Program | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biktarvy | bictegravir / FTC / TAF | Gilead | Gilead Advancing Access | 1-800-226-2056 |
| Descovy | FTC / TAF | Gilead | Gilead Advancing Access | 1-800-226-2056 |
| Genvoya | elvitegravir / cobicistat / FTC / TAF | Gilead | Gilead Advancing Access | 1-800-226-2056 |
| Odefsey | rilpivirine / FTC / TAF | Gilead | Gilead Advancing Access | 1-800-226-2056 |
| Sunlenca | lenacapavir | Gilead | Gilead Advancing Access | 1-800-226-2056 |
| Cabenuva | cabotegravir + rilpivirine (injectable) | ViiV | ViiVConnect | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Dovato | dolutegravir / lamivudine | ViiV | ViiVConnect | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Tivicay | dolutegravir | ViiV | ViiV PAP | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Triumeq | abacavir / dolutegravir / lamivudine | ViiV | ViiV PAP | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Juluca | dolutegravir / rilpivirine | ViiV | ViiVConnect | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Rukobia | fostemsavir | ViiV | ViiV PAP | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Apretude | cabotegravir injectable (PrEP) | ViiV | ViiVConnect | 1-844-588-3288 |
| Symtuza | darunavir / cobicistat / FTC / TAF | Janssen | J&J withMe | 1-866-836-0114 |
| Isentress / HD | raltegravir | Merck | Merck Helps | 1-800-727-5400 |
| Pifeltro | doravirine | Merck | Merck Helps | 1-800-727-5400 |
| Delstrigo | doravirine / lamivudine / TDF | Merck | Merck Helps | 1-800-727-5400 |
| Trogarzo | ibalizumab-uiyk (IV infusion) | Theratech | Trogarzo Support | 1-855-847-6479 |
| Yeztugo (PrEP) | lenacapavir (twice-yearly injectable PrEP) | Gilead | Gilead Advancing Access & MAP | 1-800-226-2056 |
| Generic Truvada (PrEP) | emtricitabine / TDF (generic) | Various generics | PrEP access guidance: ask your provider about generic-specific options; most private plans cover recommended PrEP without cost-sharing | Ask your PrEP provider |
Don't see your medication? Use the National AETC Medication Assistance Directory[3] — the most comprehensive listing of all HIV drug PAPs organized by medication name. Or call your clinic pharmacist — they know every program.
Tier 1 · Manufacturer ProgramsPharmaceutical Company Assistance Programs
Gilead, ViiV Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck offer medication access programs. Commercial copay cards generally exclude government coverage; free-drug PAPs and trial supplies have separate requirements. ViiV’s PAP, for example, accepts eligible uninsured and Medicare patients.[6]
Gilead’s PAP/MAP offers prescribed, participating medicines to eligible patients. Eligibility depends on financial need, coverage, and other program rules. Call Advancing Access at 1-800-226-2056 to review your options and delivery arrangements.[4]
Check the current product list. Gilead assistance is product-specific and does not provide generic emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate simply because it is a generic version of Truvada.[4]
Covers up to $7,200 per year in co-pay costs for Biktarvy, with most eligible patients paying $0 out of pocket.[5] Not available for Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, VA, ADAP, or any other government program.
For Descovy or Yeztugo PrEP assistance, use Gilead’s PrEP support page. For generic oral PrEP, ask your provider about insurance, local services, and assistance that covers that specific medicine.[20]
Yeztugo is a twice-yearly injectable PrEP option. For eligible commercially insured patients, Gilead lists an $8,000 annual maximum including up to $100 per visit for injection administration. Sunlenca, used with other drugs for certain treatment-experienced people with HIV, has a $9,600 annual maximum with administration support included. Product eligibility, government-insurance exclusions, and state restrictions apply.[21]
The ViiV Healthcare Patient Assistance Program accepts eligible uninsured patients and eligible Medicare patients. Income, residency, and other requirements apply; Medicaid and most other government coverage are excluded. Call 1-844-588-3288 or review the current application with your provider.[6]
For eligible patients with commercial insurance, ViiVConnect offers a Cabenuva copay program. Confirm the current maximum and which medication and administration costs qualify; clinic charges may remain. Government-insurance exclusions apply to this savings program.[7]
Cabenuva (monthly or every-two-month injectable treatment) has dedicated support including injection scheduling assistance. Because it's administered at a clinic, your provider's office or Ryan White clinic coordinates access. See cabenuva.com/savings-and-support.
J&J withMe can help review coverage and available assistance for Symtuza. Its SYMply Start trial can provide a limited 30-day supply to eligible patients with commercial insurance, government coverage, or no insurance. A trial supply is not ongoing coverage; check the separate terms for continued support.[8]
For eligible commercially insured patients, Symtuza savings may reduce prescription cost-sharing. Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs are excluded from the commercial savings offer. Review the current J&J withMe options or call 1-866-836-0114.[9]
Merck’s Isentress assistance program primarily serves uninsured patients; some insured patients may qualify under exceptions. The current income limits listed are $79,800 for an individual, $108,200 for a couple, and $165,000 for a family of four. Other requirements apply. Call 1-800-727-5400.[10]
Merck’s commercial savings offers have separate product-specific terms. Confirm the current offer for your prescribed medicine; a PAP income limit is not a commercial coupon benefit limit.[10]
Trogarzo is an IV-administered monoclonal antibody for highly treatment-experienced patients with multidrug-resistant HIV. The program provides free drug for eligible uninsured patients and co-pay assistance for commercial insurance, plus support for insurance denials. Your infectious disease provider coordinates enrollment.
Medicare Coverage & CostsReview Your Plan and Ask About Help
For 2027 coverage, Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15–December 7, 2026. This is the annual opportunity to review and change Medicare health or drug plans; changes generally start January 1. These dates are different from ACA Marketplace enrollment. Medicare’s enrollment guidance →
Before choosing a plan, compare your prescriptions, pharmacy, providers, and total costs. Bring your current medication list and plan notices to a counselor. Compare Medicare plans →
- Free, unbiased guidance: find your state’s SHIP program. In Florida, SHINE offers free, confidential counseling.
- Help with prescription costs: Extra Help may lower Part D costs for people who qualify. Medicare Savings Programs may help with other Medicare costs. Eligibility rules apply.
- Additional pathways: explore independent foundations and qualifying manufacturer free-drug programs. Commercial copay cards have separate government-insurance exclusions.
You do not have to figure out every coverage question alone. Ask your HIV care team or case manager to help coordinate your benefits before changing plans.
Tier 2 · Independent FoundationsCo-Pay & Premium Assistance Foundations
Independent foundations may help insured patients, including people on Medicare, with eligible out-of-pocket costs. Foundation eligibility is separate from manufacturer programs. Funds and award limits change; check the current rules before relying on an award.[11]
If one fund is closed today, sign up for alerts and check back. Funds reopen regularly. A closed door this week may be open next week.
— RiseUpToHIVTotalAssist — a Patient Advocate Foundation program
What changed: TotalAssist is a charitable assistance program of the Patient Advocate Foundation, bringing together the former PAF Co-Pay Relief and PAN assistance programs. Use TotalAssist’s current transition guidance for an existing award.[11]
Check TotalAssist’s fund directory for the relevant condition, current availability, covered costs, and eligibility. An HIV-related fund appearing in a directory does not guarantee it is open or that an applicant will qualify.[11]
TotalAssist also operates dozens of other disease-specific funds for conditions common among people aging with HIV, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, hepatitis, and depression.
HealthWell Foundation
HealthWell provides assistance through condition-specific funds. Check its Disease Funds directory for covered costs, insurance and income requirements, and current availability. Approval and funding are not guaranteed.[12]
HIV-specific and other disease funds open and close based on available donations — check the Disease Funds page for current status before applying, and sign up for fund alerts if HIV assistance is temporarily closed.
Good Days
Good Days offers assistance through condition-specific programs. Confirm that a currently available program covers your diagnosis, medicine, insurance, and financial circumstances before applying. Contact the organization for current award limits.[13]
HarborPath — Single Application for Multiple Programs
HarborPath helps eligible uninsured patients access participating medications. Ask your provider to check its current medication list and application requirements. Its ADAP Waiting List Program has separate enrollment requirements; eligibility for one program does not establish eligibility for another.[14]
Tier 3 · Navigation ToolsFind Programs, Compare Prices, Search Every Option
These free tools help you find assistance programs you may not know about, compare pharmacy prices, and identify co-pay cards for any medication — not just HIV drugs.
National AETC Medication Assistance Directory
The most comprehensive, regularly updated listing of all HIV medication assistance programs — manufacturer PAPs, co-pay cards, and foundation programs — organized by medication name.[3] aidsetc.org/resource/medication-assistance-programs
HIV.gov Patient Assistance Directory
The federal government's directory of manufacturer PAPs and co-pay programs for HIV treatment and prevention medications, plus current cost guidance.[15] hiv.gov
NeedyMeds
Free searchable database of patient assistance programs, co-pay cards, discount drug cards, and free or low-cost clinics. Search by drug name or medical condition. needymeds.org
RxAssist
Comprehensive directory of patient assistance programs maintained by Volunteers in Health Care. Organized by drug name and manufacturer. rxassist.org
GoodRx — Discount Tool for Non-HIV Medications
Most useful for generic medications many people with HIV also take — statins, blood pressure drugs, metformin, antidepressants. For brand-name HIV drugs, manufacturer PAPs and foundation grants save far more. goodrx.com/conditions/hiv/drugs
Finding PrEP Assistance in 2026
PrEP assistance depends on your medicine, coverage, location, and eligibility. Start with HIV.gov’s current access guide and a PrEP provider; ask separately about medication, visits, and laboratory costs.[20]
- Gilead Medication Assistance Program — assistance with participating Gilead PrEP medicines for eligible patients. Confirm income, residency, coverage, and documentation requirements. prep.advancingaccess.com · 1-800-226-2056
- ViiV Healthcare Patient Assistance Program — free Apretude for uninsured patients meeting income and residency requirements. gskpaf.org/viiv · 1-844-588-3288
- State and local PrEP services — availability and eligibility vary. In Florida, a county health department or PrEP provider can help assess medication assistance and any separate costs for visits and lab work.
- Commercial and ACA plans — PrEP (drug plus required labs and clinic visits) is covered with $0 cost-sharing under ACA preventive-services rules for most private plans.
PrEP access in Florida
County health departments and PrEP providers can help you explore PrEP services and medication assistance. Ask which medicines and services are available, whether you qualify, and what visits and lab work may cost. Enrollment and a same-day start depend on the provider and your assessment. ADAP supports HIV treatment for people with an HIV diagnosis; it does not cover PrEP.
Where to start: See Florida DOH PrEP and PEP resources or call the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-352-2437 (Spanish: 1-800-545-7432, Haitian Creole: 1-800-243-7101) for information and referrals.[22] The hotline is a referral resource; your provider or assistance program confirms eligibility and enrollment.
HOPWA — Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS
HOPWA is a federal HUD program providing housing assistance for people living with HIV. Eligibility: documented HIV/AIDS status, and household income at or below 80% of area median income. Assistance can include rental subsidies, short-term emergency payments, permanent supportive housing, and supportive services.[23]
How to apply: HOPWA has no national intake number — it is administered by state and local grantees. Contact your Ryan White case manager, your local AIDS Service Organization, or your county HIV housing office. In Florida, the state health department and larger AIDS Service Organizations (AHF, CAN Community Health, county health departments) coordinate HOPWA referrals. For a national grantee directory: hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa · email HOPWA@hud.gov
Tier 4 · 340B Drug Pricing ProgramYour Clinic May Already Have Discounted Medications
A Ryan White clinic, FQHC, or eligible hospital may participate in 340B if it is registered and meets the program requirements. Ask your clinic about its pharmacy services and your actual out-of-pocket costs.[24]
The short version: 340B gives eligible covered entities access to discounted outpatient drugs. It is not a patient savings card or a guaranteed percentage off a retail prescription. Clinic assistance and patient charges depend on the provider and applicable rules.[24]
What 340B Actually Is
The 340B statute allows eligible covered entities to purchase covered outpatient drugs at discounted prices. Registered entities must comply with program rules, including restrictions on transferring drugs to ineligible patients and duplicate Medicaid discounts.[24]
Who Qualifies as a 340B Covered Entity
Eligible Ryan White grantees and providers may register when they meet the applicable requirements; a clinic’s HIV specialty alone does not establish participation.
Eligible health centers can participate; check the specific organization and its registered pharmacy arrangements.
Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) — Safety-net hospitals including Jackson Health System in Miami, Tampa General, and Orlando Health.
STD clinics and other federal grantees — including tuberculosis clinics, Title X family planning clinics, and hemophilia treatment centers.
The Patient Rule — Important
You can't walk into any pharmacy and access 340B pricing. The discount belongs to the covered entity. To receive a 340B drug, you need to be an established patient of the covered entity — meaning the clinic has health records documenting your care, and you received a prescription from a provider employed by or under contract with that entity.
Whether a prescription qualifies depends on the covered entity’s patient relationship, responsibility for care, applicable grant scope, and dispensing arrangement. A retail pharmacy can sometimes participate through a contract; pharmacy location alone does not answer the question.[24]
Contract Pharmacies — And the Important Catch
Contract-pharmacy arrangements and manufacturer policies can change. Ask the covered entity which pharmacy can fill your specific prescription and what you would pay.
Always ask your clinic directly — before you leave with a prescription — where you can fill it under 340B. If your clinic has an in-house pharmacy, that's almost always the safest option.
How to Find 340B Covered Entities in Florida
HRSA maintains a public searchable database: 340bopais.hrsa.gov/SearchCe — Search by state (Florida), entity type (Ryan White, FQHC, DSH), or city. For most patients, the simpler path: find your nearest Ryan White clinic or FQHC through the Care Locator, establish care there, and ask about their pharmacy options.
340B and the current policy environment: Manufacturers have been restricting contract pharmacy arrangements since 2020, and the rules around 340B pricing mechanics have been in flux. HRSA's original 340B Rebate Model Pilot — which would have let manufacturers pay rebates after the sale instead of giving upfront discounts — was blocked by a federal court and formally withdrawn in February 2026 before it took effect.[16] HRSA then announced a revised, narrower rebate pilot on July 31, 2026, limited to drugs tied to Medicare's drug price negotiation program, with an effective date of January 1, 2027 — not 2026.[17] Ryan White funding does not by itself confirm that every clinic is currently registered in 340B. Check the provider’s eligibility and registration, its pharmacy arrangements, and your medication; the pilot is not a blanket change for all HIV drugs.[24] Navigators and case managers should stay current through 340breport.com and rwc340b.org.
Know Before You ApplyRules, Caveats, and What to Watch For
Florida ADAP: medication access restored, premium assistance still excluded. Florida DOH lists direct medication and insured medication cost-sharing assistance for eligible people at 0–400% FPL. Biktarvy and Descovy returned July 1, 2026. Insurance premium assistance was not restored. The budget includes $75 million in nonrecurring funding carried into FY2026–27 and a 21,000-client full-pay medication cap; a cap is not evidence that a waiting list is active. Complete both eligibility and enrollment steps. Call 844-381-2327 or see the Florida ADAP guide.[18][19]
On Medicaid? Commercial manufacturer copay cards exclude Medicaid, but a different program or limited trial supply may have different rules. Ask your plan and clinic to address coverage problems before paying cash.[9]
On Medicare? Check Part D Extra Help, independent funds, and applicable free-drug PAPs. ViiV accepts eligible Medicare applicants. Commercial copay cards remain a separate benefit with government-insurance exclusions.[6]
Foundation funds run out — check back regularly. Independent foundations are donation-funded. A closed fund today may reopen within days or weeks. Sign up for email alerts on any fund you need. Don't give up after one closed door.
Contact your clinic promptly if cost threatens your medication supply. Interrupting ART can lead to viral rebound, resistance, or illness. Your prescriber or pharmacist can assess urgent access options; bridge supplies are not guaranteed.[25]
Your case manager is your best resource. HIV case managers deal with these programs every single day. They know which funds are currently open, which work best for your insurance situation, and how to move an application through quickly. If you have a Ryan White case manager, lean on them — this is exactly what they're there for.
Verify These Facts YourselfReferences & Sources
Every dollar figure, program detail, and policy claim on this page is sourced below. Program terms, prices, and fund status change — always confirm current details with the organization directly before making a decision.
- NIH Clinicalinfo / HIV.gov. "Antiretroviral Therapy: Cost Considerations and Antiretroviral Prices." Retrieved 2026. clinicalinfo.hiv.gov ↩
- ViiV Healthcare. "Cabenuva U.S. Pricing." Retrieved 2026. viivuspricing.com/cabenuva.html ↩
- AIDS Education and Training Center Program (AETC). "Medication Assistance Programs." Retrieved 2026. aidsetc.org/resource/medication-assistance-programs ↩
- Gilead. Current Advancing Access program and medication requirements. Source. ↩
- Gilead. Commercial copay terms and annual product limits. Source. ↩
- GSK Patient Affairs Foundation. "ViiV Prescription Medicine Patient Assistance." Retrieved 2026. gskpaf.org/viiv ↩
- ViiV Healthcare. Cabenuva savings and support. Source. ↩
- Johnson & Johnson. Symtuza financial support and SYMply Start terms. Source. ↩
- Johnson & Johnson. Symtuza savings eligibility. Source. ↩
- Merck Helps. "Patient Assistance and Co-Pay Program Details." Retrieved 2026. merckhelps.com/ISENTRESS ↩
- Patient Advocate Foundation. How TotalAssist helps patients. Source. ↩
- HealthWell Foundation. "Disease Funds." Retrieved 2026. healthwellfoundation.org/disease-funds ↩
- Good Days. Current assistance programs. Source. ↩
- HarborPath. "Patient Assistance Program Enrollment." Retrieved 2026. harborpath.org/patient ↩
- HIV.gov. Paying for HIV care and treatment: assistance. Source. ↩
- American Hospital Association / Husch Blackwell. "340B Rebate Model Pilot Program — Withdrawal and Request for Information." February 2026. aha.org ↩
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "HRSA Announces Revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program." Press release, July 31, 2026. hrsa.gov ↩
- Florida Legislature. Enrolled 2026E budget; ADAP funding and enrollment provisions. Source. ↩
- Florida Department of Health. "AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)." Retrieved August 2026. floridahealth.gov ↩
- HIV.gov. Accessing PrEP, coverage, and assistance. Source. ↩
- Gilead. Annual maximums include applicable injection administration assistance; current terms. Source. ↩
- Florida Department of Health. PrEP and PEP resources; Florida DOH in Lee County. PrEP services and assistance navigation; HRSA. ADAP eligibility requires an HIV diagnosis. Access resources checked September 18, 2026. ↩
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program" — eligibility (documented HIV/AIDS status, household income ≤80% area median income), grantee structure, and services. HOPWA is administered by state and local grantees, not a national intake line. Retrieved August 2026. hudexchange.info/programs/hopwa; national contact: HOPWA@hud.gov ↩
- HRSA. 340B program requirements; registration, patient eligibility, and program compliance. Source. Checked September 20, 2026. ↩
- NIH. Discontinuation or interruption of antiretroviral therapy. Source. Checked September 20, 2026. ↩
Can't Find What You Need?
Contact your local Ryan White clinic, call the Florida ADAP Help Desk at 844-381-2327, or call the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-352-2437. If you are between programs, ask a case manager to check urgent assistance and ongoing coverage options.
Find Care in FloridaPrEP AssistanceSave Reference Card (PDF)