What was Ready, Set, PrEP?

Launched in December 2019 as part of the HHS "Ending the HIV Epidemic" initiative, Ready, Set, PrEP was the only federal program providing free PrEP medication to uninsured individuals with a valid prescription. Administered by TrialCard at getyourprep.com, it covered the cost of the medication itself — though not lab work or clinical visits.

The program stopped accepting new enrollments on July 30, 2024 and fully shut down on July 18, 2025.

Many websites still reference this program as active

As of March 2026, pages on Planned Parenthood, state health departments, Greater Than HIV, and dozens of community organizations still direct people to Ready, Set, PrEP. If you've been sent to getyourprep.com and found it no longer working — this is why.

What replaced it?

Nothing. No new federal program has been established to fill this gap. This is the single most significant change in the US PrEP access landscape in years.

However, several alternatives exist that can provide free or nearly free PrEP. Here's what actually works right now:

Gilead Advancing Access — Medication Assistance Program

Free brand-name Descovy or Yeztugo for uninsured patients with income under 500% FPL (~$75,300/year). No SSN required. Ships via FedEx overnight. This covers the medication, but you'll need a separate source for labs and clinical visits.

Apply at prep.advancingaccess.com

Or call 1-800-226-2056

Federally Qualified Health Centers

Nearly 1,400 FQHCs across ~15,000 sites provide healthcare on a sliding fee scale. Many prescribe PrEP and provide the required lab work. You can never be turned away for inability to pay.

Find a health center near you

State PrEP Drug Assistance Programs

If you live in California, Colorado, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Virginia, or Washington — your state runs its own PrEP assistance program. The remaining 38+ states have no equivalent.

Check your state

Key difference: Ready, Set, PrEP only covered medication

It's worth noting that Ready, Set, PrEP only covered the cost of the PrEP pills — not the required lab work (HIV test, kidney function, STI screening) or clinical visits needed to get and maintain a prescription. Many people who used the program still faced out-of-pocket costs for these services.

Ironically, the telehealth alternatives available today often provide more comprehensive coverage than Ready, Set, PrEP did — MISTR, for example, covers medication, at-home lab kits, and clinical consultations all at $0.

What about generic PrEP?

Here's the catch: Gilead MAP only provides brand-name Descovy and Yeztugo — not generic TDF/FTC. And Gilead stopped providing free generic Truvada in January 2025. If you specifically need generic PrEP and have no insurance, your options are limited to state PrEP DAPs (12 states), FQHCs, or paying out of pocket with a GoodRx coupon (~$30–$50/month).

Our recommendation

If you were using Ready, Set, PrEP and need a new path: start with the eligibility tool. It'll match you with every program you qualify for based on your insurance status, state, and income. Takes 60 seconds.

Find your new path to free PrEP

Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you with the right programs.

Start the Eligibility Tool

Information verified against HIV.gov, HHS.gov, and Gilead Advancing Access as of March 2026. FreePrEP.org is an independent resource. Full disclosure