Consultation

Anyone who requests a PrEP evaluation will be charged $30 for the medical consultation. This covers your online medical consultation and review of your lab test results, and includes unlimited messaging about PrEP with our medical team for 3 months until your next renewal — so you can ask questions about your lab tests or medication any time during that period. At this time, we do not submit claims to insurance for this consult fee. Each time you order a new test kit and evaluation for renewal of your prescription you will be charged $30 for the medical consultation.

Medication

Now that PrEP for HIV prevention is available in generic versions, the medication is less expensive than you may think.

If you have insurance, our team will bill your plan, and you’ll only be responsible for any copay. The copay for a 3-month supply of generic PrEP is usually inexpensive, or there may not be a copay, but we suggest you call your insurance company if you would like to confirm the exact amount.

Home Testing

Before you begin PrEP you must get lab tests to confirm that you are HIV negative and have healthy kidneys. You’ll re-do these tests every three months after beginning PrEP. Our preferred testing option is home-based lab testing through our partner lab, which is an option in every state we are available in except for New York. We are committed to providing a convenient and cost-effective home testing option for our PrEP patients.

For those paying without insurance:

$164 for comprehensive testing, which includes all of the necessary tests to get on PrEP + extra testing for additional sexually transmitted infections (STIs); OR $94 for basic testing which includes all of the testing necessary to get on and stay on PrEP. Both prices include free shipping both ways.

For those paying with insurance:

There is no cost for the test kit itself, which includes free shipping both ways. Once your tests have been processed by our partner lab, they will bill your insurance and you will be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs including copays and deductibles associated with your plan.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: If you receive a bill, it will come directly from our lab partner. Any Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company regarding the lab services will not list us, but rather the partner lab or their affiliates.

Non-Home Testing

If you’d prefer not to do home testing you are welcome to have your labs done at a local lab like LabCorp or Quest. Once you have submitted your request for PrEP, simply message us and tell us that you would like lab testing at LabCorp or Quest. Pricing at local labs is dependent on your insurance coverage. We recommend calling your insurance company in advance to confirm whether LabCorp or Quest is the in-network laboratory.

If you contact your insurance company to clarify your coverage for laboratory testing, we’d recommend asking them the following questions:

Do I have to use an in-network lab for lab testing?

If yes: What laboratories are covered?

Is your partner lab covered?

Do I have a deductible for lab testing?

If your insurance company asks, tell them these are the tests that will be ordered for PrEP: HIV 4th generation antibody/antigen test, serum creatinine, hepatitis B surface antigen (all required), and (optionally) syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing (rectal swab, throat swab, urine collection).

Many insurance plans cover PrEP, though you should check with your specific plan to be sure. Nurx will bill your insurance plan directly, Starting and staying on PrEP requires lab work that may or may not be covered by your insurance (See How Much Do PrEP Labs Cost?) Our team of PrEP experts can help you understand what your insurance will cover and what your out-of-pockets costs will be. If you don’t have insurance and are concerned about cost, please contact our PrEP team for more information and details on how to make PrEP affordable for you.

If you do not have insurance and cannot afford PrEP on your own, we may be able to help you apply for a payment assistance program. Gilead, the pharmaceutical company that produces Truvada and Descovy has a program called Advancing Access and, a nonprofit called the Patient Advocate Foundation provides substantial assistance for people who are uninsured, or who receive Medicare or Medicaid coverage, and can’t afford the price of PrEP. Please ask our PrEP team if you qualify for this program. If you have insurance and there is a medical reason that you must take Descovy, you may be eligible for a Gilead Co-Pay Card which can reduce or eliminate the cost of your insurance co-pay. Our PrEP team can help you understand which program you quality for and will help you apply.

Your Nurx home tests will be analyzed at our partner laboratory, a state-of-the-art lab that specializes in complex molecular testing and is CAP-accredited, meaning that it meets the scientifically rigorous standards of the College of American Pathologists. Our partner lab is also CLIA-approved, achieving the US government’s standards of quality and safety under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Your personal information is always anonymized and your personal health information is protected according to HIPAA law.

Please note, if you pay with insurance, our partner lab will bill the cost of the lab testing to your insurance (does not include price at checkout). Any out of pocket costs after your insurance is billed will depend on whether your insurance is in-network with the lab, and your specific plan’s coverage.

Yes. If you’d prefer not to do home testing you are welcome to have your labs done at a local lab like LabCorp or Quest. Once you have submitted your request for PrEP, simply message us and tell us that you would like lab testing at LabCorp or Quest. Pricing at local labs is dependent on your insurance coverage. We recommend calling your insurance company in advance to confirm whether LabCorp or Quest is the in-network laboratory.

Many new PrEP users report little to no side effects, but symptoms such as headache, abdominal pain, and weight loss can happen. These side effects typically don’t last long and often go away entirely within the first month. If you’re experiencing prolonged side effects, please contact us.

Generic versions of the PrEP medication Truvada started to be available in September 2020. You should know that in order for a generic substitution to be made for a branded medication, the generic medication must be proven by the FDA to have the same active ingredient, dosage form, strength, and conditions of use as the name-brand drug. The generic version of Truvada containing Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil is bioequivalent, meaning it has the same effects in the body and works every bit as well. Because you may receive generic PrEP from different manufacturers at different times, in some cases the pills or packaging may look different. Do not worry — it is the exact same medication with a different look.

If you miss a dose or skip a day, it’s ok! Take your pill as soon as you remember and continue with your daily schedule. Do not double dose, as you may feel nauseous or sick. Missing one dose won’t greatly affect your level of protection against HIV. However, if you are missing multiple days or are having trouble with taking a pill daily, let us know.

Nurx is an easy, discreet, and judgement free way to access PrEP. How this works:

• Request PrEP through our app or website
• Answer a few basic questions about your health and sexual activity
• Our PrEP navigators will ensure PrEP is as affordable as possible for you
• Our Medical team will review your request and order your labs if PrEP looks like a healthy option for you

Once you complete the necessary lab work (which you can do at home—we'll send you the kit), our medical team will review your results. If they determine that PrEP is right for you, your medication will be mailed to you in a discreet package.

Generally, PrEP is for anyone at increased risk for contracting HIV, including anyone who is in an ongoing relationship with a person living with HIV, anyone who does not consistently use a condom, and anyone who shares injection drug or hormone equipment. Studies have shown that PrEP can be beneficial for people of various gender identities and sexual orientations.

At this time, we only provide care in English. We are committed to creating an inclusive experience and are exploring options to expand language support in the future.