Get free HIV prevention and related care
Color is contracted with CDPH to offer PrEP and PEP in California through the PrEP-Assistance Program (PrEP-AP).
No cost to you. Discreet and confidential. For California residents.
What is PrEP?
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is medicine that reduces your chances of getting HIV from sex or injection drug use. PrEP comes as a daily pill.
What is PEP?
Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is a medication that can prevent HIV infection after a potential exposure. You must start PEP within 72 hours (3 days) after a possible exposure.
What is the PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP)?
PrEP-AP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Assistance Program) assists uninsured or underinsured (when insurance doesn’t cover PrEP) people in California with medication, testing, and services to prevent HIV.
Who is eligible for this program?
To receive PrEP, you must be a CA resident, 16+, and uninsured or have confidentiality concerns using insurance through a spouse, parent, or domestic partner. To receive PEP, you must be a CA resident and 16+.
Get Started
When it comes to HIV prevention and related care, we have you covered.
Our patient Support team is your go-to team for any questions or issues. They’re available 8am-5pm PT every day.
How it works
Getting HIV prevention or care can be complicated and overwhelming. Our team is here to help you get the care you need, when you need it. We’ll start by getting you a PrEP or PEP prescription, fast.
01 Create a secure Color account.
You’ll use your account to receive test results, confirm appointments, message your care team, and more.
02 Schedule a virtual appointment.
First, you’ll meet with a Care Advocate to start PrEP-AP enrollment, so your care is free. Then, we’ll transfer your call to a healthcare provider, who’ll determine the best course of treatment for you, like ordering an HIV/STI test and prescription.
03 Get tested for HIV.
At no cost to you, we’ll test for HIV, STIs like chlamydia, and include a few other screenings to help your healthcare provider decide which medication is right for you. We can send a test kit to your home, or refer you to the closest LabCorp to collect your sample in person.
04 Pick up your PrEP or PEP prescription at your local pharmacy.
Your PrEP prescription will be available within 2-3 days of your appointment, and your PEP prescription will be available as soon as possible. We’ll send your prescription to a pharmacy that’s convenient for you.
Step 1
Create a secure Color account.
You’ll use your account to receive test results, confirm appointments, message your care team, and more.
Step 2
Schedule a virtual appointment.
First, you’ll meet with a Care Advocate to start PrEP-AP enrollment, so your care is free. Then, we’ll transfer your call to a healthcare provider, who’ll determine the best course of treatment for you, like ordering an HIV/STI test and prescription.
Step 3
Get tested for HIV (and certain STIs).
At no cost to you, we’ll test for HIV, STIs like chlamydia, and include a few other screenings to help your healthcare provider decide which medication is right for you. We can send a test kit to your home, or refer you to the closest LabCorp to collect your sample in person.
Step 4
Pick up your PrEP or PEP prescription at your local pharmacy.
Your PrEP prescription will be available within 2-3 days of your appointment, and your PEP prescription will be available as soon as possible. We’ll send your prescription to a pharmacy that’s convenient for you.
After you get your first prescription, our team will walk you through the steps to continue your care plan. This will include finalizing your program enrollments for PrEP-AP and Gilead Advancing Access, so you can continue to access the medications you need for free.
You’ve got support with Color
Our team is here to help you get the care you need, when you need it.
Care Advocates
Our Care Advocates are a diverse, experienced team with cultural sensitivity training who will provide compassionate care and resources to help you navigate your care. They’re available 8am-5pm PT every day. They’ll help you enroll in PrEP-AP, answer questions about medications or prevention strategies, find in-person care, treatment, transportation, and more.
Physician Team
Our physicians are board-certified professionals who are experienced in providing HIV prevention services. They’ll work closely with your Care Advocate, help you get tests and prescriptions, and answer your questions along the way.
Color Support
Our patient Support team is your go-to team for any questions or issues. You can call them at 1-833-919-3696 or email them at patients@color.com. They’re available 8am-5pm PT every day.
Common Questions
Here are the requirements to get your PrEP or PEP related costs covered by PrEP-AP:
- Resident of California (regardless of your immigration status)
- Age 12+*
- Income at least 500% below poverty line
- HIV negative
- Proof of ID
- Uninsured and ineligible for Medi-Cal, or insurance does not fully cover PrEP, PEP, or related services**
*Age 12+, but Color only offers to 16+ at this time
**PrEP-AP can also offer coverage if you are not the primary policy holder of your health insurance plan and have confidentiality concerns accessing PrEP or PEP, regardless of your income.
No, only those eligible for PrEP-AP are eligible for this program.
If you are on the insurance plan of a spouse, parent, or domestic partner and have confidentiality concerns with them having access to your medical records, you are eligible for this program.
If you test positive for HIV, a Color Care Advocate will reach out to help with next steps, which may include:
- Another test to confirm your result
- A referral to in-person care
- Information on paying for treatment
In addition to the HIV test, your kit includes tests for kidney function, liver function, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C), lipid tests, and pregnancy (when appropriate). These tests are important to determine which PrEP medication is right for you.
Your HIV test kit will also test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. If you test positive for one of these STIs, a Color Care Advocate will reach out to help you with next steps.
The pill form of PrEP should be taken once a day, ideally at the same time of day.
PEP is two or more pills depending on your prescription, taken every day for 28 days. You must start PEP within 72 hours of an exposure to HIV.
PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV, but it provides no protection against STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Condoms are the best protection against STIs.
Here are the requirements to get your PrEP or PEP related costs covered by PrEP-AP:
- Resident of California (regardless of your immigration status)
- Age 12+*
- Income at least 500% below poverty line
- HIV negative
- Proof of ID
- Uninsured and ineligible for Medi-Cal, or insurance does not fully cover PrEP, PEP, or related services**
*Age 12+, but Color only offers to 16+ at this time
**PrEP-AP can also offer coverage if you are not the primary policy holder of your health insurance plan and have confidentiality concerns accessing PrEP or PEP, regardless of your income.
No, only those eligible for PrEP-AP are eligible for this program.
If you are on the insurance plan of a spouse, parent, or domestic partner and have confidentiality concerns with them having access to your medical records, you are eligible for this program.
If you test positive for HIV, a Color Care Advocate will reach out to help with next steps, which may include:
- Another test to confirm your result
- A referral to in-person care
- Information on paying for treatment
In addition to the HIV test, your kit includes tests for kidney function, liver function, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C), lipid tests, and pregnancy (when appropriate). These tests are important to determine which PrEP medication is right for you.
Your HIV test kit will also test for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. If you test positive for one of these STIs, a Color Care Advocate will reach out to help you with next steps.
The pill form of PrEP should be taken once a day, ideally at the same time of day.
PEP is two or more pills depending on your prescription, taken every day for 28 days. You must start PEP within 72 hours of an exposure to HIV.
PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV, but it provides no protection against STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Condoms are the best protection against STIs.
Helpful resources
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