Being uninsured does not mean going without HIV care. Start with a Ryan White clinic at findhivcare.hrsa.gov[1] — 18% of the program's clients are uninsured, and the program exists for exactly this[2]. Enroll in your state's ADAP for medication, and use a sliding-fee health center for everything else. In Florida, call 1-800-352-2437 today.
Door one: a Ryan White clinic
This is the designed answer, not a workaround. Use HRSA's locator at findhivcare.hrsa.gov to find Ryan White-funded HIV medical care near you, searchable by city, ZIP code, address, state, or place name[1]. 18% of Ryan White clients are uninsured, and the rest use the program alongside Medicaid, Medicare, or private coverage to fill gaps[2].
Two things to expect. First, you should not be made to wait for treatment while paperwork clears: HRSA expects grantees to have protocols for rapid delivery of services, including antiretrovirals, for people newly diagnosed or re-engaging in care, with formal eligibility determination following afterward[3]. Second, you will be asked to apply for Medicaid or a Marketplace plan, because Ryan White is the payer of last resort by statute — that is a sequencing rule, not a rejection[2].
Door two: community health centers, on a sliding scale
Federally funded health centers must see you whether or not you have insurance and must charge on a sliding fee scale based on your ability to pay[4]. That covers primary care, and often dental and behavioral health too — the parts of staying healthy with HIV that a pharmacy program will not touch.
HRSA funds roughly 1,400 health centers operating more than 16,200 service sites, and its locator is at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov[5]. When you call, say plainly that you are uninsured and ask for the sliding fee scale application — it is a normal request, not a favor[4]. HRSA's general information line is 1-877-464-4772 (TTY 877-897-9910), Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET.
Door three: the medication itself
Manufacturer patient assistance programs are built for uninsured people and provide brand-name HIV medication at no cost. The federal drug-by-drug table lists the income limits and phone lines: Gilead at 1-800-226-2056 (Biktarvy, Genvoya, Descovy, Truvada, Odefsey, Complera, Sunlenca), ViiV at 1-844-588-3288 (Dovato, Juluca, Triumeq, Cabenuva), Merck at 800-727-5400 (Delstrigo, Isentress), and Johnson & Johnson at 833-742-0791 (Symtuza, Prezcobix)[6].
If one application sounds better than five, HarborPath feeds several manufacturer programs at once: under 15 minutes to apply, a response in about 24 hours, medication shipped in under 48 hours to your home or clinic, six-month renewable enrollment, and no requirement to apply anywhere else first (980-859-3483)[7].
The reason a Ryan White clinic or county health department can hand you antiretrovirals for little or nothing is 340B: the federal drug pricing program requires manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs at deep discounts to safety-net covered entities, and Ryan White grantees are eligible entities[8]. Ask whether the clinic dispenses on site or through a partner pharmacy — it changes where you pick up.
If you are HIV-negative, and how to get covered in parallel
For PrEP: under the Affordable Care Act, PrEP — the medication, the clinic visits, and the required labs — must be covered with no out-of-pocket cost by almost all private plans, Marketplace plans, and Medicaid expansion coverage. If you are uninsured, go to Gilead Advancing Access for Descovy, Truvada, or Yeztugo, or ViiVConnect for Apretude, plus any state PrEP assistance program. Note that the old federal free-PrEP program, Ready, Set, PrEP, ended July 18, 2025 after closing to new enrollment in July 2024 — it is no longer a referral[9].
And while you are working the doors above, apply for coverage anyway. Ryan White is designed as a bridge and a gap-filler rather than a permanent substitute for insurance — most clients use it alongside Medicaid, Medicare, or private coverage[2]. Your case manager at a Ryan White site can help with the Medicaid or Marketplace application, and enrolling in coverage typically unlocks more assistance rather than less[3].
Florida: what an uninsured person can get right now
Your first call is 1-800-352-2437 — the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline will tell you the closest place to apply for HIV Patient Care Services (Spanish 1-800-545-7432, Haitian Creole 1-800-243-7101, TDD/TTY 1-888-503-7118). Florida DOH's patient care programs cover more than medicine: health and dental care, transportation, case management, housing, and medication, and part of the application can be completed online[10].
Uninsured Floridians receive direct-dispense medication through ADAP at 0–400% of the federal poverty level, with Biktarvy and Descovy back on the formulary as of July 1, 2026. Bring valid ID to pick up prescriptions[10]. Florida DOH contracts Prime Therapeutics as the 340B pharmacy benefit manager for its drug assistance programs — it has held that role since October 1, 2022, so this is the established setup, not a new change. Insured clients pick up at CVS retail or another participating network pharmacy; uninsured clients at a county health department without an onsite pharmacy are served through a specialty pharmacy[11].
Two limits to know honestly. Direct-dispense enrollment is capped at 21,000 people, and insurance premium assistance is not currently offered — DOH says it is no longer being provided at this time, with an independent state review due January 2027[12][10]. If you are near the cap or were relying on premium assistance, ask for a Ryan White Part A or Part B case manager immediately rather than waiting.
One more Florida detail worth knowing if you are pregnant or have just given birth: through Baby RxPress, DOH partners with HIV-specialized pharmacies so that HIV-exposed newborns receive HIV medication before leaving the hospital[10].
Related questions
Can I get HIV treatment with no insurance and no money?
Yes. A Ryan White-funded clinic can provide HIV medical care and enroll you in your state's ADAP, and manufacturer patient assistance programs give brand-name HIV medication free to uninsured people. HarborPath is one application that feeds several of those programs and ships in under 48 hours. Federally funded health centers must see you regardless of insurance and charge on a sliding fee scale based on your ability to pay.
Do I have to wait for approval before starting medication?
You should not. HRSA expects Ryan White grantees to have protocols for rapid delivery of services, including antiretrovirals, for people who are newly diagnosed or re-engaging in care, with services beginning before eligibility paperwork is complete and the formal determination following. If you are told to wait weeks, ask for an intake supervisor, call the Florida HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-352-2437, or try another funded provider.
How do I get PrEP if I am uninsured?
Go straight to the manufacturers: Gilead Advancing Access for Descovy, Truvada, or Yeztugo at 1-800-226-2056, and ViiVConnect for Apretude at 1-844-588-3288, plus any state PrEP assistance program. The federal Ready, Set, PrEP program ended July 18, 2025, so it is no longer an option. If you do have coverage, almost all private, Marketplace, and Medicaid expansion plans must cover PrEP medication, visits, and labs with no out-of-pocket cost.
What does Florida cover for uninsured people with HIV in 2026?
Direct-dispense HIV medication through ADAP at 0 to 400% of the federal poverty level, with Biktarvy and Descovy back on the formulary as of July 1, 2026, plus Patient Care Program services including medical and dental care, transportation, case management, and housing help. Two caveats: direct-dispense enrollment is capped at 21,000 people, and premium assistance is not currently offered. Start at 1-800-352-2437 or the ADAP Help Desk at 844-381-2327.
Related from RiseUpToHIV
References & Sources
- HRSA — Find a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Medical Provider. Official locator for Ryan White-funded HIV medical care, searchable by city, ZIP code, address, state, or place name. ↩ ↩
- KFF — The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program: The Basics. 18% of Ryan White clients are uninsured; the coverage mix among clients; and Ryan White's statutory payer-of-last-resort role. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau — PCN 21-02, Determining Client Eligibility & Payor of Last Resort (rev. 03/13/2025, PDF). Rapid delivery of services including antiretrovirals before eligibility determination is complete, and the payer-of-last-resort sequencing that leads programs to help clients apply for other coverage. ↩ ↩
- HRSA — Get Health Care. Health centers serve people regardless of insurance status and charge on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay. ↩ ↩
- HRSA — Find a Health Center. Locator for roughly 1,400 HRSA-funded health centers operating more than 16,200 service sites. ↩
- HIV.gov — Patient Assistance Programs and Co-payment Assistance Programs. Drug-by-drug patient assistance program eligibility and manufacturer contact numbers for Gilead, ViiV, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson medications. ↩
- HarborPath — Patient application. Single application into multiple manufacturer programs, timelines for response and shipping, six-month renewable enrollment, and the 980-859-3483 line. ↩
- HRSA Office of Pharmacy Affairs — 340B eligibility and registration: Ryan White grantees. 340B requires manufacturers to sell outpatient drugs at discounted prices to covered entities, and Ryan White grantees are eligible entities. ↩
- HIV.gov — Ready, Set, PrEP program status and PrEP coverage rules. Ready, Set, PrEP stopped new enrollments July 30, 2024 and ended July 18, 2025; ACA requirements for no-cost PrEP medication, visits, and labs; and manufacturer routes for uninsured people. ↩
- Florida Department of Health — HIV/AIDS patient care and AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Current 0–400% FPL ADAP eligibility with Biktarvy and Descovy restored July 1, 2026; the range of patient care services; the statement that premium assistance is no longer being provided at this time; and Baby RxPress for HIV-exposed newborns. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩
- Prime Therapeutics — Florida DOH ADAP announcement FAQ (PDF). Prime Therapeutics as Florida DOH's 340B pharmacy benefit manager since October 1, 2022, and how insured versus uninsured clients pick up medication. ↩
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation — Florida budget becomes law, securing reversal of HIV drug cuts (June 2026). The 21,000-person cap on direct-dispense enrollment and the fact that insurance premium assistance was not restored, with a state review due January 2027. ↩
Community publications like POZ, Positively Aware, and TheBody inform framing and lived-experience context on RiseUpToHIV. Every clinical, epidemiological, or public-health claim above is anchored to a primary source.