Program Ended July 18, 2025

Ready, Set, PrEP Has Ended.
Here's What to Do Now.

The federal government's free PrEP program is gone and no replacement has been announced. But free PrEP is still available — through different channels. Here's exactly what changed and what your options are today.

If you're seeing this page, you may have been sent here from a website that still lists Ready, Set, PrEP as active. Many organizations — including Planned Parenthood, state health departments, and community organizations — have not updated their PrEP resources since the program ended. The information below is current as of March 2026.

What Was Ready, Set, PrEP?

Ready, Set, PrEP was a federal program launched in December 2019 as part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. Administered by TrialCard at getyourprep.com, it provided free PrEP medications to uninsured individuals who had a valid prescription. The program covered the cost of the medication only — not lab work, clinical visits, or the prescription itself.

At its peak, Ready, Set, PrEP was one of the most straightforward paths to free PrEP for uninsured Americans. You needed three things: no insurance, a prescription, and a phone call. The medication was shipped directly.

What Happened

December 2019
Ready, Set, PrEP launched as part of the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative
January 31, 2025
Gilead discontinued free Truvada (generic TDF/FTC) through its Advancing Access patient assistance program, citing broad generic availability
July 4, 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act imposed roughly $800 billion in Medicaid cuts, including new work requirements and tighter immigrant eligibility
July 18, 2025
Ready, Set, PrEP fully ended. The program had stopped accepting new enrollments on July 30, 2024.
As of March 2026
No replacement federal program has been established.

Why This Matters

The end of Ready, Set, PrEP — combined with Gilead ending free Truvada — created the most significant gap in US PrEP access in years. Uninsured individuals who previously relied on these programs now have no direct federal pathway to free PrEP medication.

This gap is most damaging for uninsured people in the 38+ states that lack dedicated PrEP Drug Assistance Programs — particularly in the US South, which bears the highest HIV burden. An uninsured person in Mississippi or Alabama prescribed generic PrEP now has essentially no assistance pathway through government or manufacturer programs alone.

What Replaced It

Nothing replaced Ready, Set, PrEP directly. But free PrEP is still accessible through several other channels. Here are your best options, ranked by ease of access:

1. Telehealth Platforms (Fastest Path)

Platforms like MISTR provide completely free PrEP — medication, labs, and consultations — to both insured and uninsured patients in all 50 states. They use 340B pharmacy partnerships and manufacturer assistance programs to cover costs. This is the closest thing to a Ready, Set, PrEP replacement.

$0 cost All 50 states Insured & uninsured Includes labs & visits
Start free PrEP with MISTR

2. Gilead Advancing Access (MAP)

Gilead's Medication Assistance Program provides free brand-name Descovy or Yeztugo to uninsured patients earning under 500% FPL (~$79,800/year). No SSN required — undocumented residents are explicitly eligible. Unlike Ready, Set, PrEP, this covers medication only — you still need a provider for the prescription and labs.

Free Descovy or Yeztugo No SSN required Income ≤ 500% FPL
Apply at Advancing Access

3. State PrEP Drug Assistance Programs

12 states (CA, CO, DC, IL, IN, IA, MA, NM, NY, OK, VA, WA) operate their own PrEP assistance programs covering medication, labs, and/or clinical visits. If you live in one of these states, this may be the most comprehensive option available to you.

Varies by state 12 states only
Check your state

4. Federally Qualified Health Centers

Nearly 15,000 FQHC sites nationwide offer sliding-fee PrEP services. They can prescribe, do lab work, and connect you to assistance programs regardless of insurance or immigration status. Fees are based on ability to pay.

Sliding-fee scale 15,000+ sites
Find an FQHC near you

Have private insurance? You likely don't need any of the above. Under the ACA, most private plans must cover PrEP at $0 cost-sharing — medication, labs, and visits included. See our insurance guide →

How Ready, Set, PrEP Compared to Current Options

Ready, Set, PrEP only covered medication — you still needed to find and pay for a provider, prescription, and lab work. Today's telehealth platforms actually offer more comprehensive coverage:

In many ways, the current options are better than what Ready, Set, PrEP provided — the catch is that you need to know they exist. That's what this site is for.

Find your personalized path to free PrEP

Answer 4 quick questions and we'll match you with every program you qualify for — no sign-up, no data stored.

Start the Eligibility Tool

Sites That Still Reference Ready, Set, PrEP as Active

As of March 2026, the following types of organizations still list Ready, Set, PrEP as an active program on their websites. If you were directed here from one of these sources, the information you read was outdated:

We're not calling these organizations out — updating web content takes time and resources. But if you're reading this, now you know: Ready, Set, PrEP is gone. The options above are what's real.

Need the full picture? Our complete guide to free PrEP in 2026 covers every current pathway — insurance, manufacturer programs, state DAPs, telehealth, and injectable options.

Information sourced from HIV.gov, CDC, Gilead Advancing Access, ViiV Healthcare, NASTAD, and state health departments. FreePrEP.org is an independent resource — we are not affiliated with any government agency or pharmaceutical company. Full disclosure