Apretude Cost in 2026: What You'll Actually Pay
Apretude (cabotegravir) is the every-2-month injectable PrEP made by ViiV Healthcare. The list price is roughly $4,000–$5,400 per injection — but most people pay nothing. Here's the full cost breakdown and every pathway to $0.
The Quick Answer
| Your Situation | What You'll Pay | How |
|---|---|---|
| Private insurance | $0 | ACA mandate + ViiV copay savings card |
| Medicaid | $0–$3 | Covered under Medicaid drug benefit |
| Uninsured, income <500% FPL | $0 | ViiVConnect Patient Assistance Program |
| Medicare | Varies | Part D coverage + nonprofit copay funds |
| No assistance, cash price | ~$4,038–$5,460 | Per injection (retail pharmacy) |
Bottom line: If you have any form of insurance or earn less than roughly $75,000/year, you should be able to get Apretude for $0. The ~$4,000+ list price is what pharmacies charge without any assistance — and almost nobody should be paying that.
Full Cost Breakdown
Apretude's generic name is cabotegravir. It's an intramuscular injection given every 2 months after two initial loading injections one month apart. That means roughly 7 injections per year in the first year and 6 per year after that.
At retail, each injection runs approximately $4,038–$5,460 depending on the pharmacy. That's a potential annual cost of $24,000–$33,000 without any assistance. But this list price is almost entirely irrelevant because of the assistance programs below.
Why is the list price so high?
Apretude is a long-acting injectable — it requires specialized manufacturing and cold-chain storage. ViiV Healthcare (a subsidiary of GSK) is the sole manufacturer with no generic competition yet. The high list price also reflects the pharmaceutical pricing dynamic in which assistance programs effectively make most patients pay $0, while the list price drives insurance reimbursement.
Every Way to Get Apretude for $0
1. ACA Preventive Coverage (Insured Patients)
The Affordable Care Act requires most private insurance plans to cover PrEP — including Apretude — at $0 cost-sharing. This covers the medication itself, required lab work, and clinical visits. Apretude is typically billed under the medical benefit (not pharmacy), since it's administered by a healthcare provider.
Watch out: Some insurers may require prior authorization before approving Apretude, especially since cheaper generic oral PrEP exists. Your provider can handle this — it usually takes a few days to a couple of weeks.
2. ViiV Apretude Savings Program (Insured Patients)
If your insurance leaves you with any out-of-pocket cost, ViiV's copay savings program covers up to $7,850 per year — including both medication costs and injection administration fees. This effectively reduces your copay to $0.
Eligibility: Commercially or privately insured patients. No income requirement. Not available for government insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE).
How to enroll: Your provider's office or specialty pharmacy can enroll you, or visit the ViiV program website.
3. ViiVConnect Patient Assistance Program (Uninsured Patients)
If you're uninsured, ViiVConnect provides Apretude completely free to qualifying patients.
Eligibility: Uninsured with household income below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (~$75,300/year for an individual in 2026). Medicare Part D patients may also qualify under certain criteria.
How to apply: Contact ViiVConnect at 1-844-588-3288 or work with your prescribing provider.
4. Alternate Sites of Care (ASOC) Network
ViiV maintains a network of clinics and providers specifically set up to administer Apretude injections, including for patients who may not have a regular provider. The ASOC network can help connect you with a nearby injection site.
5. Nonprofit Copay Assistance (Medicare Patients)
Medicare beneficiaries can't use manufacturer copay cards, but nonprofit foundations can help:
Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF): Up to $7,500/year for insured patients with income below 400% FPL. PAF and PAN Foundation are merging into a unified "TotalAssist" program launching July 1, 2026.
Good Days Foundation: Up to $7,500/year, primarily for Medicare/military beneficiaries with income below 500% FPL (SSN required).
Apretude vs. Yeztugo: Cost Comparison
| Apretude (cabotegravir) | Yeztugo (lenacapavir) | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | ViiV Healthcare (GSK) | Gilead Sciences |
| Dosing | Every 2 months | Every 6 months |
| Per injection (list) | ~$4,038–$5,460 | ~$14,109 |
| Annual list price | ~$24,000–$33,000 | ~$28,218 |
| Copay program (insured) | Up to $7,850/yr | Up to $8,000/yr + $100/visit |
| Free for uninsured? | Yes (ViiVConnect, <500% FPL) | Yes (Gilead MAP, <500% FPL) |
| Clinic visits/year | 6–7 | 2 (after initial loading) |
Both injectables can be obtained for $0 through their respective manufacturer programs. The practical cost difference comes down to clinic visits — Apretude requires 6–7 per year vs. Yeztugo's 2. If clinic access, time off work, or transportation is a factor, Yeztugo's twice-yearly schedule may save you real money in indirect costs.
For a full head-to-head comparison, see our Yeztugo vs. Apretude guide.
How to Start Apretude
Talk to a provider
Discuss injectable PrEP with your doctor, an HIV specialist, or a provider at an FQHC. You'll need baseline labs: HIV test, kidney function, hepatitis B screening, and STI testing.
Sort out coverage
If insured, confirm Apretude coverage with your plan (it may need prior authorization). Ask your provider to enroll you in the ViiV copay savings program. If uninsured, apply through ViiVConnect at 1-844-588-3288.
Loading phase
Your first two injections are given one month apart. After that, you'll return every 2 months. Each injection appointment takes about 15–20 minutes.
Ongoing care
You'll get an HIV test before each injection and periodic lab work. All of this is covered at $0 under the ACA for insured patients.
Prefer a daily pill instead?
Oral PrEP (generic TDF/FTC or Descovy) is also free through telehealth platforms. MISTR handles everything — consultation, labs, and medication delivery — at $0 in all 50 states.
Start Free PrEP with MISTR →Use referral code ANDR735 at signup. Using this code helps keep FreePrEP.org running and supports free PrEP access for everyone.