Ready, Set, PrEP — the federal program that provided free PrEP medication to uninsured Americans — stopped new enrollments in July 2024 and ended entirely in July 2025. No replacement program has been announced. But free PrEP is still available through Gilead Advancing Access, state programs, and telehealth.
If you're searching for Ready, Set, PrEP right now, you'll find a dead end. The program stopped accepting new enrollments on July 30, 2024, and shut down entirely on July 18, 2025.
No replacement was announced. No transition plan was provided. Millions of Americans who relied on the program — or who would have enrolled — are now looking for alternatives.
You're in the right place.
What Ready, Set, PrEP Was
Launched in 2019, Ready, Set, PrEP was a federal program through the HHS that provided free PrEP medication to uninsured Americans who tested HIV-negative and had a valid prescription. It was the most straightforward path to free PrEP for people without insurance — no income verification, no complex applications. Just a prescription and proof of no insurance.
Its loss hit the South hardest, where uninsured rates are highest and state-level alternatives are thinnest. Not one of the 10 highest-HIV-burden Southern states has a PrEP Drug Assistance Program to fill the gap.
What Replaced It: Three Pathways That Work
1. Gilead Advancing Access (The Primary Replacement)
This is now the single most important program for uninsured PrEP access in America. Gilead provides free Truvada, Descovy, and Yeztugo (twice-yearly injectable) to uninsured individuals at or below 500% FPL (~$60,300/year). No citizenship requirement.
Phone: 1-800-226-2056
Coverage: Medication only (you'll still need lab work and provider visits covered separately)
Processing: Standard applications take a few days; emergency PEP requests can be processed in 5-10 minutes with overnight delivery
2. State PrEP Drug Assistance Programs
About 12 states operate PrEP DAPs that cover the gaps Gilead doesn't — lab work, clinic visits, STI screening. If you're in California, New York, Illinois, Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington, DC, Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, or New Mexico, check your state's program. Find your state →
3. Telehealth Platforms
MISTR, Q Care Plus, and other telehealth providers handle the entire PrEP process — consultation, lab orders, medication — at $0 for both insured and uninsured patients. They navigate the manufacturer programs and insurance billing on your behalf.
The simplest replacement for Ready, Set, PrEP.
MISTR provides free PrEP in all 50 states — consultation, labs, and medication, all at $0. They handle all the billing and program enrollment for you.
Start Free PrEP with MISTR →Using this code at signup helps us achieve our mission of getting free PrEP out to all who need it.
What About Lab Work and Doctor Visits?
Gilead Advancing Access covers the medication but not the required lab work (HIV testing, kidney function, STI screening) or provider visits. This is the gap that matters most for people without insurance. Here's how to fill it:
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) offer PrEP monitoring on a sliding-fee scale. Over 1,400 nationwide. Find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
- State PrEP DAPs (where they exist) cover labs and visits in addition to medication.
- Telehealth platforms like MISTR include lab work in their $0 cost structure.
- Local health departments often provide free HIV/STI testing that satisfies PrEP monitoring requirements.
Labs, meds, consultations — all included, all free.
Unlike Gilead's program (medication only), MISTR covers the full PrEP package: consultation, lab work, medication, and ongoing monitoring. $0 cost.
Start Free PrEP with MISTR →Using this code at signup helps us achieve our mission of getting free PrEP out to all who need it.
Don't Wait for a Federal Replacement
There's no indication that a successor to Ready, Set, PrEP is coming. Given the current federal funding landscape — with proposed elimination of the CDC Division of HIV Prevention and $755.6 million in CDC prevention funding — the opposite is more likely.
The good news: the combination of Gilead Advancing Access + state programs + telehealth actually provides broader coverage than Ready, Set, PrEP did. The bad news: it's more complicated to navigate. That's what FreePrEP.org is here to simplify.
Full state-by-state guide to free PrEP: FreePrEP.org State Directory →
Detailed Ready, Set, PrEP breakdown: What Happened to Ready, Set, PrEP →
Get started in 10 minutes — no program applications required.
MISTR handles all the navigation for you. Free PrEP in all 50 states, no matter your insurance status.
Start Free PrEP with MISTR →Using this code at signup helps us achieve our mission of getting free PrEP out to all who need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ready, Set, PrEP still available?
No. The program stopped accepting new enrollments on July 30, 2024, and ended entirely on July 18, 2025. No replacement has been announced.
What's the best replacement for Ready, Set, PrEP?
Gilead Advancing Access is the closest direct replacement for the medication itself. For comprehensive coverage including labs and provider visits, telehealth platforms like MISTR or state PrEP DAPs (available in about 12 states) are the most complete alternatives.
Can I still get free PrEP without insurance?
Yes. Gilead Advancing Access provides free medication to uninsured individuals earning under ~$60,300/year. Telehealth platforms like MISTR provide the full package — medication, labs, consultations — at $0 regardless of insurance status.