PrEP in New York City: How to Get It, What It Costs and Who It Is For

PrEP is a prevention medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. It is prescribed by a clinician, and in New York City there are several ways to get it, including public clinics that work on a sliding scale. This guide explains who PrEP is for, the forms it comes in, what a first visit involves, and how people pay for it.

You do not need to have everything figured out before you start. Many people begin with one phone call or one walk-in visit. This page is meant to make that first step clearer.

In this guide

1. What PrEP is and how well it works
2. Who PrEP is for
3. The three ways to take PrEP
4. How to get PrEP in New York City
5. What the visit and lab tests involve
6. What PrEP costs and how people pay
7. Staying on PrEP, PEP, and other prevention tools
8. Sources

What PrEP is and how well it works

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It means taking HIV medicine before a possible exposure so that the virus has a much harder time taking hold in the body. It is used by people who do not have HIV.

The CDC says daily oral PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when it is taken as prescribed. For people who inject drugs, the CDC says the reduction is at least 74%. The key phrase in both statements is "as prescribed." The protection depends on how consistently the medicine is used.

PrEP is one HIV prevention tool among several. It works well alongside condoms, regular testing, and, for some people, other medicines. It is not a treatment for HIV, and it does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections.

Why PrEP matters in New York City

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports 1,791 new HIV diagnoses in New York City in 2024. The New York State Department of Health reports 2,555 new diagnoses statewide for the same year. These are counts, and the citywide rate per 100,000 people was not published in the sources reviewed for this guide.

HIV is treatable and manageable with medicine, but it is not curable. Preventing it is the goal of PrEP, and a large share of New Yorkers who could benefit have never had a conversation about it with a clinician.

Who PrEP is for

PrEP is for people who do not have HIV and who may be exposed to it. That covers people of every gender and sexual orientation. The CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both describe PrEP as appropriate for people at increased risk of getting HIV.

The CDC's PrEP guidance describes people who may want to talk with a clinician about PrEP, including:

• People who have had anal or vaginal sex in the past six months and who have a partner with HIV, or who have had a bacterial STI in that time, or who do not always use condoms.
• People who inject drugs and who share needles or equipment, or who have a partner who injects drugs.
• Anyone who simply wants added protection and feels it fits their life, even if they are not sure they fit a category.

You do not need to explain your life to anyone in order to ask about PrEP. A clinician will ask a few direct questions about sex and drug use so that the plan fits you. Those questions are routine, and the answers are part of your confidential medical record.

Transgender and nonbinary people

PrEP is for people of all gender identities. If you take gender-affirming hormones, tell the clinician so that the plan can account for your full medication list. Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, an LGBTQ+ community health center, lists PrEP among its sexual health services.

People who are pregnant or trying to conceive

People who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or chest or breastfeeding can talk with a clinician about whether PrEP fits their situation. The CDC guidance addresses PrEP for people with partners who have HIV. This is a conversation to have with a prescriber, since the answer depends on your health and your plans.

Teens and young adults

NYC Health says adolescents can get PrEP at NYC Sexual Health Clinics without a parent's permission. The clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent, regardless of immigration status. More on this in the section on getting PrEP.

The three ways to take PrEP

There is more than one way to use PrEP today. Which one fits depends on your health, your kidneys and bones, how you prefer to take medicine, and the kind of exposure you are protecting against. A clinician decides this with you. This section describes the options without dosing details, because those belong in a prescriber's instructions.

Daily oral PrEP

This is the most widely used form. It is a pill taken every day, prescribed by a clinician. The CDC's roughly 99% figure for sex refers to daily use as prescribed. It is approved for both sex and injection drug use.

The main advantage is that the evidence behind it is the deepest. The main task is routine. Many people link the pill to something else they do every day. If you often miss doses, tell your clinician. That is useful information, and it can point toward another option.

On-demand PrEP, sometimes called 2-1-1

On-demand PrEP is a timed approach in which medicine is taken around a sexual exposure instead of every day. It is often called "2-1-1" after the pattern of pills. The CDC describes this approach for men who have sex with men, based on the research done in that group. The CDC does not describe it as an established option for other groups, such as people who have vaginal sex or who inject drugs.

If you think this might suit you, ask a clinician. The timing has to be exact for it to work, so it should come from a prescriber and not from a web page. Not every clinician is equally familiar with it, so it is fine to ask directly.

Injectable PrEP

Injectable PrEP is given by a clinician instead of taken as a pill. Because a clinic visit replaces the daily routine, it can suit people who find pills hard to keep up with, or who prefer not to carry or store them. The CDC's PrEP guidance includes an injectable option for adults at risk through sex, and the USPSTF updated its recommendation to include it.

Injectable PrEP requires keeping scheduled appointments. It also needs HIV testing at those visits. Ask the clinic whether it offers this form, since availability can differ from site to site. Newer long-acting options continue to be approved, so it is worth asking what is currently available.

How to get PrEP in New York City

You have a few good paths. All of them end the same way: a clinician takes a short history, orders baseline tests, and writes a prescription if PrEP is appropriate.

Step by step

1. Choose where to go. Options include an NYC Health Department Sexual Health Clinic, a community health center such as Callen-Lorde, your own primary care clinician, or a youth clinic such as Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.
2. Bring what you have. Bring your insurance card if you have one. At NYC clinics, no proof of income is required.
3. Have the conversation. Tell the clinician what you want protection from. You do not need to defend your choices.
4. Get baseline tests. These are described in the next section.
5. Fill the prescription and plan follow-up. Ask how and where the medicine will be dispensed and what the next visit will be.

NYC Health Department Sexual Health Clinics

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene runs Sexual Health Clinics that offer PrEP initiation and counseling. The health department says these clinics are low to no cost and mostly walk-in, though appointments are preferred for PrEP. The clinics may close early once they reach capacity, so arriving earlier in the day is wise.

The Sexual Health Clinic Hotline is 347-396-7959, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. No per-clinic phone number is listed. Services at these clinics include STI testing, HIV testing, PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP, HPV vaccine for patients receiving other sexual health services, and treatment.

Clinic	Address	Hours listed by NYC Health
Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic (and Chelsea Express Clinic), Manhattan	303 9th Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10001	Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Express: Monday and Wednesday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic, Manhattan	2238 Fifth Avenue, First Floor, Manhattan, NY 10037	Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic (and Express Clinic), Brooklyn	295 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (clinic 2nd floor; Express 1st floor)	Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Express: Monday and Wednesday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic, Bronx	1309 Fulton Avenue, Second Floor, Bronx, NY 10456	Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic, Queens	90-37 Parsons Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11432	Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Corona Sexual Health Clinic, Queens	34-33 Junction Boulevard, First Floor, Queens, NY 11372	Monday to Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.

Two things to know. NYC Health lists the Crown Heights (Brooklyn) and Riverside (Manhattan) Sexual Health Clinics as closed until further notice. And the open list does not include a NYC Health sexual health clinic on Staten Island, so Staten Island residents may need to travel to another borough or ask their primary care clinician. Hours can change, so check the NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics page before you go.

Callen-Lorde Community Health Center

Callen-Lorde is an LGBTQ+ community health center that offers PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP, STI and HIV testing, and hepatitis C testing. Its Chelsea site is at 356 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011, phone 212-271-7200. Callen-Lorde says sexual health visits are by appointment Monday to Friday with limited walk-in, with Saturday walk-in from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

Callen-Lorde also lists a Bronx site at 555 Bergen Ave, 4th Floor (718-215-1800) and a Brooklyn site at 40 Flatbush Ave Ext, 3rd Floor (718-215-1818). Its sexual health page names only the Chelsea site, so call the Bronx or Brooklyn site to confirm which services are offered there. See the Callen-Lorde PrEP page for details.

Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center

This Mount Sinai clinic serves young people ages 10 to 26 at 312-320 East 94th Street, New York, NY 10128, phone 212-423-3000. Mount Sinai says its services are completely free and that it offers walk-in visits Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as scheduled appointments. PrEP, PEP, doxy-PEP, and same-day rapid HIV testing are listed among its services.

Your own clinician

Any licensed prescriber can prescribe PrEP, including a primary care doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. If yours is not comfortable doing so, you can ask for a referral or go to one of the clinics above.

What the visit and lab tests involve

The first visit is mostly a conversation plus some lab work. The CDC's PrEP guidance lists what clinicians check before prescribing, and a clinic will usually follow it closely.

Before you start

• An HIV test. PrEP is for people who do not have HIV, so a test comes first. If you have had a recent possible exposure or have symptoms, tell the clinician. The CDC explains that different HIV tests detect infection at different times after exposure, and a clinician will pick the right one.
• Kidney function. Some oral PrEP medicines are processed through the kidneys, so the clinician checks that they work well.
• Hepatitis B status. This matters because some PrEP medicines also affect hepatitis B. If you are not immune, the clinic can talk about vaccination.
• STI testing. The CDC recommends screening for STIs when PrEP is started, based on the sites of sexual contact. Testing may include urine, swabs from the throat or rectum, and blood tests for syphilis.
• Pregnancy testing where it applies.

Follow-up visits

The CDC's guidance calls for follow-up about every three months for people taking oral PrEP. These visits include repeat HIV testing, an STI check, and a talk about how taking the medicine is going. They are also a good time to ask about side effects and to refill the prescription.

Injectable PrEP has its own visit schedule, which the prescribing clinic sets. Ask about it before you choose that option.

Side effects

Some people notice mild effects such as nausea or headache when they begin oral PrEP, and these often settle. A clinician can explain what to expect for the specific medicine you are prescribed. Call the clinic if something worries you, and do not stop on your own without telling them.

Testing and PrEP go together

Regular STI testing is part of a PrEP visit, and it is also worth doing between visits if something changes. The local testing list on our page about where to get tested in New York City shows where to find testing across the five boroughs. You can also search for a site on the CDC's GetTested locator.

Free HIV self-test kits are available to NYC residents through Community Home Test Giveaway partner agencies listed on the NYC Health Map. You can also reach them through 311 or by texting TESTNYC to 55676. NYC Health's pages do not list a free at-home STI kit program.

What PrEP costs and how people pay

Cost is the most common worry about PrEP, and the honest answer is that it depends on your coverage. The good news is that New York has several routes that can bring the cost down a great deal, and some clinics cost nothing at all. This section covers the main ones.

Public clinics and sliding scales

NYC Health says its Sexual Health Clinics are low to no cost. Adults 19 and older are asked for insurance or a sliding-scale fee. No proof of income is required, no payment is collected at the clinic, and no one is turned away for inability to pay.

Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center states that its services are completely free for people ages 10 to 26. Callen-Lorde says it provides services regardless of ability to pay, with a sliding fee for people who are uninsured or underinsured. It lists visit co-pays from $0 to $100.

The sources reviewed for this guide do not list a price for PrEP medication itself at any of these sites. Ask the clinic or pharmacy what the medication will cost with your coverage before you leave.

Health insurance and the ACA preventive rules

The USPSTF gives PrEP a Grade A recommendation for people at increased risk of HIV. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private plans must cover services that get an A or B grade from the USPSTF without cost sharing. Federal guidance has said that this applies to PrEP and to related services such as the HIV test, kidney tests, and follow-up visits.

In practice, that can mean no co-pay or deductible for PrEP and its monitoring. Rules differ by plan type, and some plans are exempt, so call the number on your insurance card and ask. If a claim is wrongly denied, ask the clinic's billing staff about an appeal.

NYS PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP)

The New York State Department of Health runs PrEP-AP for people who are uninsured, or whose insurance does not cover some PrEP services. It covers PrEP-related health care and lab costs. It does not cover the medication itself. The state says medication cost help comes through manufacturer assistance programs.

To use PrEP-AP, you must see a participating provider. The state's number is 1-800-542-2437. Read the PrEP-AP consumer page for the details.

Immigration status and privacy

NYC Sexual Health Clinics serve people regardless of immigration status. Clinics keep health information confidential under medical privacy rules. Some infections are reported to the health department by law, which is routine public health practice and does not mean anyone else is told your PrEP plans.

NYC Health Code requires clinicians and labs to report conditions including chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. New York State law also requires HIV infection to be reported. These reports go to health authorities, not to employers or family.

A quick summary of cost options

Option	Who it helps	What the source says
NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics	Anyone 12 and older	Low to no cost; sliding scale for adults; no one turned away
Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center	Ages 10 to 26	Services completely free
Callen-Lorde	Anyone, including uninsured people	Sliding fee; visit co-pays $0 to $100
NYS PrEP-AP	Uninsured or underinsured	Covers PrEP care and labs, not the medication
Private insurance	Insured people	Often no cost sharing under ACA preventive rules; confirm with your plan

Staying on PrEP, PEP, and other prevention tools

Making PrEP part of your routine

Protection depends on steady use. Some people find it helps to pair the medicine with a daily habit, set a phone reminder, or arrange follow-up visits ahead of time. If your life changes, such as a new job, a move, or a change in insurance, tell your clinic early so that there is no gap.

You can stop PrEP when your situation changes, but do that with a clinician's guidance. They can tell you how and when to stop safely, and what testing to do afterward.

PEP: for after a possible exposure

PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis. It is HIV medicine started after a possible exposure, and it needs to be started quickly. The CDC explains that it works best when begun as soon as possible, and it is prescribed by a clinician. NYC Health runs a 24/7 PEP Hotline at 844-373-7692.

If you think you may have been exposed, call the hotline or go to an emergency department right away. Do not wait to read more first. Sexual Health Clinics and Callen-Lorde also list PEP among their services.

Doxy-PEP for bacterial STIs

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to reduce the chance of certain bacterial STIs. The CDC describes it for men who have sex with men and transgender women who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. A clinician decides whether it fits, and the NYC clinics and Callen-Lorde list doxy-PEP among their services.

Why STI testing still matters

PrEP prevents HIV only. NYC Health reports that in 2024, New York City had 62,774 reported chlamydia cases (760.16 per 100,000) and 32,889 reported gonorrhea cases (398.27 per 100,000). It also reported 1,467 primary and secondary syphilis cases (17.76 per 100,000) and 2,842 early latent syphilis cases (34.41 per 100,000).

Bacterial STIs and trichomoniasis are curable with treatment from a clinician. HIV, herpes and HPV are not curable, but they are treatable or manageable. Testing finds infections early, and quarterly PrEP visits make that routine.

Condoms and other options

Condoms lower the chance of getting HIV and many other STIs. Combining condoms with PrEP gives broader protection than either one alone. People who inject drugs can also ask clinics about sterile equipment and support services.

Common questions

Do I need to tell my parents if I am a teen?

New York Public Health Law section 2305 lets a licensed physician diagnose, treat and prescribe for a person under 21 who has been exposed to or infected with an STD, without parental consent or knowledge. NYC Health says its clinics serve anyone 12 or older without parental consent and that adolescents can get PrEP without a parent's permission.

Can I just walk in?

NYC Health Sexual Health Clinics are mostly walk-in, though appointments are preferred for PrEP. Callen-Lorde offers limited walk-in. Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center offers walk-in hours. Call first when you can, since hours and capacity can change.

Will I be asked a lot of personal questions?

You will be asked some direct questions about sex and drug use. These help the clinician choose the right tests and plan. You can answer at your own pace.

What if I am not sure I qualify?

Ask anyway. A clinician can tell you whether PrEP makes sense and what other options exist. If you are unsure where to begin, call the Sexual Health Clinic Hotline at 347-396-7959 on a weekday between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

How much will the medication cost?

The sources used for this guide do not publish a medication price. It depends on your insurance and on any assistance programs. Ask your clinic, pharmacy or the PrEP-AP line at 1-800-542-2437.

Your next step

Pick one place from this guide and make contact. A clinic call, a walk-in visit, or a conversation with your own clinician will all move you forward. If you also want an STI check, use the local testing list or the CDC's GetTested locator to find a free or low-cost site near your borough.

Sources

• CDC: About PrEP and the CDC's clinical guidance on PrEP
• CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021, and the CDC's 2024 doxy-PEP guidance
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: PrEP recommendation (Grade A)
• CDC GetTested: find HIV and STI testing
• NYC Health: Sexual Health Clinics
• NYC Health: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• NYC Health: HIV Testing
• NYC DOHMH: STI Surveillance Annual Report, 2024
• NYC DOHMH: HIV in NYC 2024
• NYS Department of Health: New York State HIV At a Glance 2024
• NYS Department of Health: PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP)
• N.Y. Public Health Law section 2305 (minor consent)
• N.Y. Public Health Law section 2130 (HIV reporting)
• NYC Health Code Article 11 (reportable conditions)
• Callen-Lorde: PrEP
• Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center