Ready, Set, PrEP

Content From: Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, HHSUpdated: March 18, 20224 min read

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I'm Ready - Ready, Set, PrEP

Ready, Set, PrEP Expands Access to HIV Prevention Medications

The Ready, Set, PrEP program provides free PrEP HIV-prevention medications to thousands of people living in the United States, including tribal lands and territories, who qualify. It expands access to daily oral PrEP medications to help reduce the number of new HIV transmissions and bring us one step closer to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.

An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States could benefit from PrEP medications, but fewer than 25% of them are taking it. To address a cost barrier for some individuals who might otherwise wish to use PrEP, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched Ready, Set, PrEP in December 2019, as an integral part of the federal effort to end HIV in the United States.

Why Should I Take PrEP Medication?

PrEP medications allow those at risk for HIV to take control of their health and reduce their risk. If you are at risk of HIV exposure through sex or injection drug use, ask a health care professional if PrEP is right for you. PrEP medications only protect against HIV, so condoms are still important to prevent other sexually transmitted infections.

How Does PrEP Work?

PrEP medications are safe and effective and can help prevent HIV. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective at preventing a person from getting HIV. Learn more about PrEP basics.

Do I Qualify?

The Ready, Set, PrEP program provides access to daily oral PrEP medications for free to people who qualify. You can apply for the Ready, Set, PrEP program if you:

  1. Don’t have health insurance coverage for prescription drugs.
  2. Have taken an HIV test and received a negative result before starting the program.
  3. Have a prescription for PrEP.
  4. Live in the United States, including tribal lands and territories.

If you receive PrEP medication through the Ready, Set, PrEP program, you will not have to pay for the medicine. The costs of necessary clinic visits and lab test costs may vary depending on your income and your clinic or health care provider.

How to Enroll

Ready Set PrEP Condensed Patient Journey
View this diagram describing the process to start PrEP through the Ready, Set, PrEP program
  1. Talk to a health care provider. Before enrolling in the Ready, Set, PrEP program, talk to a health care provider to see if PrEP medications are right for you and, if so, get a prescription. If you do not have a provider, you can find a clinic or provider that prescribes PrEP at locator.hiv.gov. Some options include:
    • Community Health Centers provide affordable, accessible, and quality primary health care regardless of your ability to pay. Using sliding fee scales, services such as clinic visits and lab tests are provided at low or no cost.
    • STI or Sexual Health Clinics also provide PrEP consultations and ongoing PrEP clinic visits and lab tests at low or no cost.
    • Other nonprofit or governmental health clinics, such as family planning clinics or local health departments, also provide PrEP services.
  2. Once you have a prescription, visit readysetprep.hiv.gov or call toll-free (855) 447-8410 to qualify and enroll. You must include the name of the health care provider who wrote your prescription when you fill out the form. You can also download and print the enrollment form (available in English or Spanish ) and give it to your provider to fill out.

If you have any problems enrolling, call toll-free (855) 447-8410. You can also visit or call your health care provider’s office or your local community health center, where trained staff can help you or even enroll you in the program using the “healthcare professional” pathway on the enrollment site.

Where Do I Fill My New PrEP Prescription?

All patients enrolled in the Ready, Set, PrEP program fill their prescription for free at their choice of participating pharmacies or via mail order.

Ready, Set, PrEP Helps End HIV in the United States

Ready, Set, PrEP makes free daily oral PrEP medications available nationwide, and is a key component of efforts to end HIV in the United States. Together we can reduce the number of new HIV transmissions in the United States by 75% by 2025 and by at least 90% by 2030.

Up to 200,000 people per year through 2030 can benefit from receiving daily oral PrEP medications through this program. Ready, Set, PrEP will expand access to PrEP medications, reduce new HIV infections, and bring us one step closer to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.

For More Information

Review the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 547 KB).

Eligibility requirements and an explanation of how the program works are available at readysetprep.hiv.gov and 855-447-8410.

Share information about Ready, Set, PrEP with friends and colleagues using these social media assets.

To learn more about PrEP’s role in ending the HIV epidemic, visit Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America.