With the expiration of subsidies and support for the Obamacare healthcare marketplace insurance programs and other HHS funding cuts, many people are heading into 2026 without insurance for healthcare services, medications and emergencies.
According to reporting, renewals for the healthcare marketplace insurance programs for 2026 are down some 40%. Among the many impacts to those of us in the LGBTQ+ community are those who have been getting their PrEP medications covered by health insurance. PrEP is a vital guardrail for those having unprotected sex with men to prevent contracting HIV.
PrEP is primarily a 1 tablet per day dose of either Truvada or Descovy (emtricitabine-tenofovir) that is nearly 100% effective in preventing the contraction of HIV in those having oral or penetrative sex with an infected sex partner. There are now also injectable solutions on the market.
When we see a widespread reduction in people taking preventative measures, the likelihood is that the risk of contracting HIV will increase for those having unprotected sex. The level in infections in our community is at risk of increasing as a result.
The good news is that if you are no longer able to afford health insurance or your eligibility for support programs has fallen you can still buy PrEP medication out of pocket for far less than you may think. Generic versions of Truvada can be purchased for as low as $30 a month from most chain retailers and online pharmacies.
For less than a night out to a movie, a bar or even a bath house you can have a month worth of HIV prevention in your medicine cabinet. That’s a remarkably inexpensive cost for being able to have as much unprotected sex as you want without a worry of either getting or spreading HIV.
Furthermore, if you elect to take the PrEP on demand dosages you can spread that cost out even further. PrEP 2-1-1 is when you take 2 tablets 2-24 hours before sex and then 1 tablet every 24 hours after for 2 doses. This is a good option for those who don’t wish to take a tablet daily because their sexual cadence does not require it.
There is the cost of getting tested every 90 days for HIV and other STI’s at your doctor or a clinic which is a requirement of the PrEP regime in most cases. Some local cities and counties have free clinics or discounted services for those who may need them in order to get a prescription.
Don’t forget DoxyPEP which is the medication that can be taken 24-72 hours after sexual contacts to help prevent contracting STI’s like chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Doxycycline is an antibiotic medication that’s also very inexpensive at about $15-30 a month cash out of pocket.
The main message here is that with the costs of these life saving medications being now much more affordable than they once were, there is no reason to leave yourself exposed to HIV and other infections just because you have lost health insurance.
Make your health a priority, and afford yourself the benefit of self care and a worry free sex life.
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