TL;DR
DC residents have some of the most comprehensive free PrEP access in the country. The DC PrEP-DAP covers medication, labs, and visits for anyone in the DMV up to 500% FPL — regardless of insurance and without requiring SSN or citizenship docs. Whitman-Walker Health is the anchor provider; Unity Health Care's 20+ FQHC sites reach all 8 wards; MISTR works as telehealth for anyone who prefers online. New diagnoses in DC have dropped 86% from their 2007 peak.
The Washington DC HIV picture
DC's HIV story is remarkable in both directions. On one hand, DC still has the highest HIV prevalence of any U.S. jurisdiction at 1.7% of the population. On the other, DC has driven new diagnoses down 86% from their peak — 192 in 2023 vs. 1,374 in 2007. Disparities concentrate in Wards 5, 7, and 8 east of the Anacostia River. DC was one of the first U.S. health departments to formally endorse U=U ("undetectable = untransmittable") and has no HIV-specific criminal laws.
Your fastest paths to $0 PrEP in Washington DC
- DC PrEP-DAP — Covers medication, copays, deductibles for anyone in the DC metro (DMV) up to 500% FPL. No explicit SSN or citizenship requirement. Call (202) 671-4815.
- Whitman-Walker Health — DC's anchor LGBTQ+ and HIV-specialty provider. Two locations (Logan Circle and Anacostia). PrEP clinic direct line: (202) 939-7690.
- Unity Health Care — 20+ FQHC sites reaching all 8 wards. Serves 90,000+ patients annually regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. Email prepatunity@unityhealthcare.org.
- DC Health and Wellness Center — Walk-in PrEP/PEP prescribing and HIV/STI testing. Prescribed PrEP to 771 people in a recent 12-month period. Call (202) 741-7692.
- MISTR telehealth — $0 PrEP shipped discreetly. Useful if you'd rather avoid in-person visits.
Start PrEP today from anywhere in Washington DC
MISTR ships to all of DC, Maryland, and Virginia — covering the DMV. $0 medication, labs, and consults. Useful if you work unpredictable hours, want to avoid clinic waiting rooms, or simply prefer everything online.
ANDR735
Using this code helps keep FreePrEP.org running and connects more people to free PrEP.
Start with MISTR →DC state programs that pay for PrEP
DC PrEP-DAP is one of the most accessible state-level PrEP programs in the country. It pays for medication, copays, and deductibles for insured residents, and covers uninsured residents entirely. Unlike many state programs, it does not explicitly require SSN or citizenship documentation. Eligibility: DC metropolitan area (DMV) resident, income ≤500% FPL, HIV-negative, must have HIV risk factors.
Contact: (202) 671-4815 | 899 North Capitol St NE, 4th Floor, DC 20002 | dchealth.dc.gov/DCPrEPDAP
DC 24/7 PEP Hotline: (202) 299-3PEP (3737) | GetPEPDC.com — if you've had an exposure in the last 72 hours, call this line immediately.
DC Healthcare Alliance note: The Alliance program, which historically covered undocumented residents at ≤210% FPL, is being phased out. As of August 2025, enrollment is frozen for adults 26+. This affects long-term access for undocumented DC residents. Legal Aid DC (legalaiddc.org) can help navigate.
Looking for the full DC guide?
We have a dedicated page with every clinic, program, and telehealth option across the state.
Key clinics in Washington DC
DC's premier LGBTQ+ health center. PrEP navigation, free HIV/STI testing, sliding-fee scale, and on-site legal services. Logan Circle and Anacostia (Max Robinson Center).
Reaches all 8 wards of DC with 20+ health sites plus mobile outreach. Serves ~90,000 patients annually regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. PrEP available across the network.
Walk-in PrEP/PEP prescribing and free HIV/STI testing. Prescribed PrEP to 771 people in a recent 12-month period. Operated by DC Health.
PrEP at all PPMW health centers. Telehealth 7 days a week. Core resource for DMV residents across genders.
Free HIV testing and PrEP across multiple DC neighborhoods. Walk-in friendly.
DC Health's free at-home testing program. Useful for baseline labs before starting PrEP with any clinic or telehealth platform.
Telehealth options for Washington DC residents
DC is telehealth-friendly and most national platforms serve it. MISTR is the cleanest all-inclusive option; national platforms like Nurx and PlushCare also work.
MISTR covers medication, quarterly lab work, consultations, and delivery at $0 in all 50 states. Works for insured and uninsured patients alike. Oral and injectable PrEP available. First prescription typically in 24–48 hours.
Not sure which path is right for you?
Use our eligibility tool — four questions, 60 seconds, no sign-up. We'll match you with every free PrEP program you qualify for in DC.
Start the Eligibility Tool →Special situations in Washington DC
If you're undocumented
DC PrEP-DAP accepts applications without explicit SSN or citizenship requirements — residency is what's checked. Unity Health Care serves everyone regardless of immigration status. MISTR and Gilead Advancing Access don't require documentation. However, the DC Healthcare Alliance is being phased out, affecting long-term coverage — consult Legal Aid DC (legalaiddc.org) for navigation. See our PrEP for Undocumented Immigrants guide.
If you're a minor
DC allows minors to consent to STI testing and treatment. Whitman-Walker Health and Unity Health Care serve minors confidentially. See our PrEP as a Minor guide.
If you're transgender
Whitman-Walker is one of the oldest and most experienced trans-affirming healthcare providers in the country. HRT, PrEP, and primary care all from the same clinic team. See our PrEP for Transgender Women guide.
If you need PEP instead
If you've had a potential HIV exposure in the last 72 hours, you need PEP, not PrEP. DC operates a 24/7 PEP Hotline at (202) 299-3PEP (3737) — call this number immediately if you've had a potential exposure in the last 72 hours. Also GetPEPDC.com. Every DC ER (GW, MedStar, Howard, Children's) can prescribe PEP. Whitman-Walker also offers rapid PEP access at (202) 797-4439. After your 28-day PEP course, your provider should transition you to PrEP for ongoing protection — see our How to Get PEP guide.
Bottom line
DC is one of the best U.S. jurisdictions for free PrEP. The DC PrEP-DAP's permissive eligibility (500% FPL, no SSN needed), Whitman-Walker's decades of experience, Unity Health Care's coverage across all 8 wards, and a 24/7 PEP Hotline mean most DC residents can get $0 PrEP within a day. If you live in the DMV and are uninsured, apply to the DC PrEP-DAP. If you want same-day walk-in, use the DC Health and Wellness Center or Whitman-Walker. If you want telehealth, use MISTR.
Ready to start PrEP?
MISTR ships to anywhere in Washington DC and the rest of DC. $0 medication, labs, and consults — insured or not.
ANDR735
Using this code helps keep FreePrEP.org running and connects more people to free PrEP.
Get Started with MISTR →