Every state has a program that provides HIV medication at no cost to people who qualify
Every state runs an AIDS Drug Assistance Program, usually called ADAP, that provides HIV medication at no cost or very low cost to people who qualify. The program exists for people who are uninsured, whose insurance does not cover enough, or whose income makes the medication unaffordable. This page explains what ADAP covers, who qualifies, the income limits, how to apply, and the other programs that help pay for HIV medication, including free medication directly from the drug companies.
Brand-name HIV medications often cost more than most people can pay on their own, and treatment is ongoing. The programs on this page were built for exactly that situation. According to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 600,000 people — over half of everyone diagnosed with HIV in the United States — get care or medication through the Ryan White program that funds ADAP, so applying is a normal step, not a last resort.
What the AIDS Drug Assistance Program is
ADAP is part of the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (website: https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/), under the section of the law known as Part B. The federal government funds it, and each state health department runs its own version. That matters for two reasons: you apply through your state, not a federal office, and the rules differ from state to state.
Some states use their own name for the program. In Texas, for example, it is the Texas HIV Medication Program (THMP). If you do not see the word ADAP on your state health department's website, look for terms like HIV medication program or Ryan White Part B. The ADAP Directory at https://adap.directory/ lists every state's program, its current rules, and how to reach it.
ADAP is what the government calls a payer of last resort. In plain terms, the program pays after any other coverage you have, and part of the application involves checking whether you qualify for Medicaid or other insurance first. That is a normal part of the process, not a rejection.
What ADAP covers
The core benefit is medication. Each state keeps a list of covered drugs, called a formulary, and federal law requires every state's list to include at least one drug from each class of HIV antiretroviral medication. Many state formularies also cover medications for related conditions and infections.
Most states can also use ADAP money to pay health insurance costs instead of, or alongside, handing you medication directly. That can mean paying your monthly premiums, deductibles, and prescription copays for a private plan, a marketplace plan, or Medicare drug coverage. If you already have insurance but cannot afford what it leaves you to pay, say so when you apply — having insurance does not disqualify you.
Who qualifies and the income limits
Every state program requires three basic things: a documented HIV diagnosis from your medical provider, residency in the state where you apply, and income under your state's limit. The income limits are higher than most people expect. According to the national ADAP survey published by NASTAD, state limits range from 200 percent of the federal poverty level in Texas up to 550 percent in Oregon, South Carolina, and Wyoming, and most states set the limit at 400 or 500 percent.
Do not assume you earn too much. A limit of 400 or 500 percent of the poverty level is several times what most assistance programs allow, and nearly all states — 46 of the 49 that reported in the national survey — have no asset test, so savings, a car, or a home will not count against you in almost every state. Check your state's current limit through the ADAP Directory at https://adap.directory/ before deciding not to apply.
How to apply and what to have ready
Apply through your state program, which you can find through the ADAP Directory at https://adap.directory/ or by calling your state's HIV hotline listed by HRSA at https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/hiv-care/hotlines. You do not have to do the paperwork alone. Ryan White clinics have case managers and benefits counselors whose job is to complete these applications with you, at no charge, and they can usually also check whether you qualify for Medicaid or other help at the same time.
Have four things ready when you apply: documentation of your HIV status from your provider, proof of income such as pay stubs or a tax return, proof that you live in the state such as a lease or utility bill, and your insurance information if you have any. Enrollment is not permanent — states require you to recertify on a set schedule and to report changes in income, address, or insurance. Missing a recertification deadline is one of the most common reasons people lose coverage, so ask your case manager to note the date.
Neither ADAP nor any drug company assistance program charges a fee to apply. If anyone asks you to pay for help submitting an application, they are not part of the program.
Ryan White help beyond medication
The same program that funds ADAP also funds HIV medical care through clinics across the country. A Ryan White clinic can provide doctor visits, lab work, dental care, mental health care, and case management on a sliding scale or at no cost, depending on your income. The results are documented: According to recent Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports, over 90% of people receiving Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program medical care achieve viral suppression. This means the treatment is working effectively and they cannot pass HIV through sex.
To find one, use the HRSA locator at https://findhivcare.hrsa.gov/ or the broader HIV.gov services locator at https://locator.hiv.gov/, which also lists testing and prevention services. If you need general medical care beyond HIV treatment, community health centers charge based on income — see our guide to federally qualified and low-cost clinics.
Medicaid and Medicare
Medicaid covers HIV medication in every state, usually at little or no cost, and you can apply at any time of year. Note that Medicaid goes by different names depending on the state — Medi-Cal in California, TennCare in Tennessee, BadgerCare in Wisconsin, AHCCCS in Arizona — so the program you are looking for may not say Medicaid on the door. If your income is low, apply for Medicaid and ADAP at the same time; the ADAP office or a Ryan White case manager can help with both.
If you have Medicare, the drug plan under Part D covers HIV medication, and ADAP in most states can pay your Part D premiums and prescription cost sharing on top of it. The federal government's overview of every coverage path — private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and the Ryan White system — is at https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/hiv-treatment/paying-for-hiv-care-and-treatment.
Free medication from the drug companies
The companies that make brand-name HIV medications run their own assistance programs, separate from ADAP, and they are worth knowing about if you are waiting on an ADAP application, do not qualify, or hit a coverage gap.
- Gilead's Advancing Access program at https://www.gileadadvancingaccess.com/ (1-800-226-2056) covers its HIV medications for uninsured people with income up to 500 percent of the poverty level.
- ViiV Healthcare, which makes the HIV drugs formerly sold under GlaxoSmithKline, runs ViiV Connect at https://www.viivconnect.com/ (1-844-588-3288) with the same 500 percent limit.
- Merck runs MerckHelps for its HIV drugs, with income limits around 400 percent of the poverty level — our MerckHelps guide explains how to apply.
- Johnson & Johnson covers its HIV medications through J&J withMe, generally for incomes up to 300 percent of the poverty level — see our J&J withMe guide for the details.
For any HIV drug not made by these four, the federal government keeps a current table of every medication's assistance program, phone number, and income limit at https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/staying-in-hiv-care/hiv-treatment/paying-for-hiv-care-and-treatment/assistance.
Two things to know before you apply. These programs cover the medication only — not doctor visits or lab tests — and enrollment lasts twelve months before you must reapply. Also, most older HIV drugs that are available as generics have no manufacturer program at all, because there is no brand-name maker behind them; generics are exactly what ADAP, Medicaid, and low-cost pharmacies handle well, which is one more reason to apply for ADAP even while using a company program. Our general guide to patient assistance programs explains how these applications work across all drug makers.
Help with copays if you have insurance
If you are insured but the copays and deductibles are the problem, two kinds of help exist. The same drug companies listed above run copay programs for insured patients, listed in the federal table linked in the previous section. Separately, charitable foundations such as the HealthWell Foundation open funds that pay medication copays for specific conditions; the funds open and close during the year based on donations, so check current status before counting on one. Our HealthWell Foundation page explains how those funds work and how to apply.
If you are looking for help paying for PrEP
PrEP is medication that prevents HIV in people who do not have it, and the help for it works differently than ADAP, which serves people who are HIV positive. Under federal rules, most private insurance plans, Medicaid expansion plans, and Medicare cover PrEP with no out-of-pocket cost, including the clinic visits and lab tests that go with it. If you are uninsured, the drug manufacturers and about a dozen states run PrEP assistance programs. The federal PrEP page at https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/using-hiv-medication-to-reduce-risk/pre-exposure-prophylaxis covers every payment path and how to find a PrEP provider.
A note on this information
NeedHelpPayingBills.com provides information on assistance programs and general resources only. Nothing on this page is medical advice. Questions about your treatment, your medications, or your health belong with your doctor or HIV care team.
Income limits, covered drugs, and application rules for these programs are set by each state and each company, and they change. Confirm current requirements directly with your state program or the company before you apply.
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