PrEP Online

In July 2021, the federal government announced that almost all health insurers must cover not just the cost of PrEP medication, but of clinical visits and lab tests as well. If you have insurance, our doctors can help with prior authorizations and other paperwork to ensure that your care is covered.   Out-of-pocket, PrEP would cost about $20,000 per year. Luckily, most insurance will cover the cost of PrEP, so most people pay little to nothing for their prescription. Those who don’t have insurance shouldn’t worry either. The company that makes PrEP, Gilead, has a Medication Copay Assistance Program that can help those without insurance pay for the medication.

Yes, these plans cover PrEP! All plans should cover the medication cost, but some may not cover the initial doctor’s visit. Please contact us at [email protected] to inquire about your plan and how it works with PlushCare.

You can get PrEP online through PlushCare! Just book an appointment with one of our top online doctors and together you will decide if PrEP if right for you. If the doctor thinks you may benefit from a PrEP prescription, they will order you a lab test to ensure you are HIV negative. If your results show you are negative for HIV, they will electronically send your prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. Our doctors can also work with you to ensure that your care is covered by your health insurance.

HIV is a virus that attacks the white blood cells in the body. Because white blood cells normally fight off infection, HIV leads to a weakened immune system and can greatly affect the health of those who are infected, making them susceptible to all kinds of infection.

PrEP is an anti-HIV medication that prevents HIV infection in HIV-negative individuals. PrEP is intended for those who do not have HIV but may be at a high risk of becoming infected. PrEP is approved by the FDA and has been around since 2012.

After seven days of daily use, PrEP will reach its maximum protection level from HIV for recipients who have receptive anal sex. After 20 days of daily use, PrEP will reach its maximum effectiveness against HIV for recipients who have receptive vaginal sex or use injection drugs.

Those who are HIV positive or may have already been exposed to HIV should not take PrEP. People who know or suspect they may have been exposed to HIV in the previous 72 hours should contact a doctor to discuss taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Yes, generally, the Truvada PrEP medication is very safe and well tolerated. Most people report no side effects at all. Those that do experience side effects typically see them disappear in a matter of days or weeks as the body adjusts. The newer version of PrEP, Descovy is even safer than the original drug. Only one in ten people report short-term side effects after starting PrEP. Commonly reported PrEP side effects include:

• Dizziness

• Vomiting

• Fatigue

• Nausea

These short-term side effects usually start in week one or two, but go away over the first few weeks. There were no reports of sexual side effects from individuals in any study. Less than 2% of people in clinical trials reported:

• Abdominal pain

• Headaches

• Weight loss

• Back pain

• Anxiety/depression

• Diarrhea

Some longer-term PrEP side effects were also reported in clinical trials. Some individuals experienced decreased kidney function. The compounds in PrEP can cause small increases in serum creatinine, a molecule usually filtered by kidneys. Because of this increase, kidney function can decrease. On rare occasions, this resulted in kidney failure. A rare number of individuals experienced slight decreases in bone mineral density just in the first month. The changes did not get worse or increase the risk of fracture.

After stopping taking PrEP, bone density and kidney function returned to normal no matter the length of time spent taking PrEP.