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accessHealthNews.net
June 2023
Volume 9 | Issue No. 71
What is PrEP?
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medicine that reduces
your chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.
When taken as directed, PrEP is more than 90% effective
for preventing the transmission of HIV.
When is PrEP taken?
PrEP is taken before exposure occurs and is available as
a daily pill, intermittent pill, and bimonthly injection. All of
these options are safe and have been approved by the
FDA.
PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%
when taken as prescribed. Among people who inject
drugs, it reduces the risk by at least 74% when taken as
prescribed.
PrEP is much less effective when it isn't taken consistently.
Learn more about which option is right for you.
Who should take PrEP?
PrEP is for everybody. It is especially recommended for
anyone who is HIV-negative, including individuals who:
• Are sexually active.
• Inject drugs.
• Have an HIV-positive partner with an unknown viral
load.
• Have been diagnosed with an STD in the past 6 months.
PrEP should be considered for people who have been
prescribed post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Learn more about whether PrEP is right for you.
How can I pay for PrEP?
If you have insurance:
• Many private insurances cover generic Truvada for
PrEP. Under the Affordable Care Act, labs and PrEP
prescriptions are to be covered at 100% for most plans.
• Co-pay coupon cards are available through Gilead,
and Good Rx may offer discounted prices.
If you are uninsured or underinsured:
• Ready, Set, PrEP offers free PrEP medications for eligible
individuals.
• Advancing Access Patient Assistance Program
through Gilead offers discounts on co-pays for eligible
individuals.
• Patient Advocacy Fund offers co-pay, co-insurance,
and deductible assistance.
Are you ready to start PrEP? Speak to your provider or find
a provider at PrEPLocator.org.
Are you a health care provider in Missouri? Connect with
the ShowMe ECHO HIV Clinic to provide HIV testing and
care.
For individuals living with HIV:
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a treatment recommended
for everyone who has HIV. People with HIV should begin
taking HIV medicines as soon as possible.
Although ART cannot cure HIV, it can help people with HIV
live longer, healthier lives. ART also reduces the risk of HIV
transmission.
The main goal of HIV treatment is to reduce a person's
viral load to an undetectable level. This means that the
level of HIV in the blood is too low to be detected by a
viral load test.
People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load
have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-
negative partners through sex.
Learn more about treatment options for HIV.
Live A Longer, Healthier Life
with PrEP and ART
