How to Get Money to Pay for Your HIV Medication

Treatment can be expensive but there are programs that will lower the cost, sometimes even making meds free.

By Trudy Ring

  June 24 2015 11:18 AM EDT

 

 HIV meds are often expensive, but even if you don’t have private insurance or a low enough income to qualify for Medicaid, there are other programs that can help you pay. Also, if you are insured but have a high co-pay, help is available for that as well.

The Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare, requires insurers to provide prescription drug coverage, whether it’s a policy you buy through the ACA marketplace or (in most cases)another plan, such as insurance provided by your employer. They also must cover at least one drug in every class and count your out-of-pocket drug costs — usually meaning co-pays — toward your lifetime cap on out-of-pocket expenses. The ACA marketplace has made coverage available to millions of previously uninsured Americans, as has Medicaid expansion, enacted through the ACA and a related bill. Find more information at Healthcare.gov.

Also, the federally created, state-managed AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) can help uninsured or underinsured people pay for their HIV medications. The requirements vary by state, but typically you have to be a resident, have HIV, and earn less than a certain amount per year, calculated as a percentage of the federal poverty level.

Following is a guide to ADAP income requirements and contact information. Each state’s Maximum Qualifying Income (MQI) to be in ADAP is shown as a percentage of the federal poverty level as well as the dollar amount for a one-person household (for 2015, in the 48 contiguous states the federal poverty level for one person is $11,770; add $4,160 per family member).

ALABAMA
Website: adph.org/aids
Phone: (334) 206-5364
MQI: 250% or $29,425


ALASKA
Website: bit.ly/ALASKAadap
(907) 452-4222
MQI: 300% or $44,160


ARIZONA
Website: bit.ly/ARIZadap
Phone: (800) 334-1540
MQI: 300% or $35,310


ARKANSAS
Website: bit.ly/ARadap
Phone: (501) 661-2408
MQI: 200% or $23,540


CALIFORNIA
Website: bit.ly/CAadap
Phone: (916) 449-5900
MQI: less than $50,000


COLORADO
Website: bit.ly/COadap
Phone: (303) 692-2716
MQI: 400% or $47,080


CONNECTICUT
Website: bit.ly/CTadap
Phone: (800) 233-2503
MQI: 400% or $47,080


DELAWARE
Website: bit.ly/DEadap
Phone: (302) 744-1050
MQI: 500% or $58,350


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Website: bit.ly/DCadap
Phone: (202) 671-4900
MQI: 500% or $58,850


FLORIDA
Website: floridaADAP.org
Phone: (800) 352-2437
MQI: 400% or $47,080


GEORGIA
Website: bit.ly/GEORGIAadap
Phone: (404) 657-3100
MQI: 300% or $35,310


HAWAII
Website: bit.ly/adapHawaii
Phone: (808) 586-4400
MQI:  400% or $54,200


IDAHO
Website: safesex.idaho.gov
Phone: (208) 334-6527
MQI: 200% or $23,540


ILLINOIS
Website: bit.ly/ILLadap
Phone: (217) 782-4977
MQI: 300% or $35,310


INDIANA
Website: bit.ly/indianaADAP
Phone: (866) 588-4948
MQI: 300% or $35,210


IOWA
Website: bit.ly/iowaADAP
Phone: (515) 281-0926
MQI: 200% or $23,540


KANSAS
Website: bit.ly/KANadap
Phone: (785) 368-8218
MQI: 300% or $35,310


KENTUCKY
Website: bit.ly/kentuckyADAP
Phone: (866) 510-0005
MQI: 300% or $35,310


LOUISIANA
Website: hiv.dhh.louisiana.gov
Phone: (504) 568-7474
MQI: 300% or $35,310

MAINE
Website: bit.ly/MEadap
Phone: (207) 287-3747
MQI: $55,850, add $3,960 per dependent


MARYLAND
Website: bit.ly/MDadap
Phone: (800) 205-6308
MQI: 500% or $58,850


MASSACHUSETTS
Website: crine.org/hdap/
Phone: (800) 228-2714
MQI: 500% or $58,850


MICHIGAN
Website: michigan.gov/dap
Phone: (888) 826-6565
MQI: 450% or $52,965


MINNESOTA
Website: bit.ly/minnesotaADAP
Phone: (800) 657-3761
MQI: 300% or $35,310


MISSISSIPPI
Website: bit.ly/mississippiADAP
Phone: (601) 362-4850
MQI: 400% or $47,080


MISSOURI
Website: bit.ly/missouriADAP
Phone: (866) 628-9891
MQI: 300% or $35,310


MONTANA
Website: bit.ly/montanaADAP
Phone: (406) 444-4744
MQI: 330% or $38,841


NEBRASKA
Website: bit.ly/NEadap
Phone: (402) 559-4673
MQI:  200% or $23,540


NEVADA
Website: bit.ly/nevadaADAP
Phone: (775) 684-4247
MQI: 400% or $47,080


NEW HAMPSHIRE
Website: bit.ly/NHadap
Phone: (603) 271-4502
MQI: 300% or $35,310


NEW JERSEY
Website: bit.ly/newjerseyADAP
Phone: (877) 613-4533
MQI: 500% or $58,850


NEW MEXICO
Website: nmhivguide.org
Phone: (505) 827-2435
MQI: 400% or $47,080


NEW YORK
Website: bit.ly/adapNewYork
Phone: (800) 542-2437
MQI: 435% or $51,199


NORTH CAROLINA
Website: bit.ly/adapNCar
Phone: (877) 466-2232
MQI: 300% or $35,310


NORTH DAKOTA
Website: ndhealth.gov/HIV
Phone: (800) 472-2180
MQI: 300% or $35,310


OHIO
Website: bit.ly/OHadap
Phone: (800) 777-4775
MQI: 300% or $35,310


OKLAHOMA
Website: bit.ly/OKADAP
Phone: (405) 271-4636
MQI: 200% or $23,540


OREGON
Website: bit.ly/oregonADAP
Phone: (800) 805-2313
MQI: 400% or $47,080


PENNSYLVANIA
Website: bit.ly/PennADAP
Phone: (800) 922-9384
MQI: 500% or $58,850


RHODE ISLAND
Website: bit.ly/RhodeIslandADAP
Phone: (401) 462-3294
MQI: 400% or $47,080


SOUTH CAROLINA
Website: bit.ly/SCadap
Phone: (800) 569-9954
MQI: 300% or $35,310


SOUTH DAKOTA
Website: bit.ly/SDakADAP
Phone: (605) 773-3737
MQI: 300% or $35,310


TENNESSEE
Website: bit.ly/TNadap
Phone: (615) 532-2392
MQI: 300% or $35,310


TEXAS
Website: bit.ly/texasADAP
Phone: (800) 255-1090
MQI: 200% or $23,540


UTAH
Website: bit.ly/utahADAP
Phone: (801) 538-6197
MQI: 250% or $29,425


VERMONT
Website: bit.ly/vermontADAP
Phone: (802) 863-7245
MQI: 500% or $58,850


VIRGINIA
Website: bit.ly/virginiaADAP
Phone: (855) 362-0658
MQI: 400% or $47,080


WASHINGTON
Website: bit.ly/WAadap
Phone: (360) 236-3426
MQI: 400% or $47,080


WEST VIRGINIA
Website: bit.ly/WestVAADAP
Phone: (304) 558-2195
MQI: 400% or $47,080


WISCONSIN
Website: bit.ly/WIadap
Phone: (800) 991-5532
MQI: 300% or $35,310


WYOMING
Website: bit.ly/WYadap
Phone: (307) 777-5856
MQI: $40,150-$45,100,
depending on county


ADAP also covers Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Pacific Island Territories.
Visit bit.ly/HHSadap for more information.

 

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