Lost health insurance? Here are resources to know about
It was terrible news to end a year full of terrible news: Enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies expired at the end of 2025. Despite the millions of people in this country who rely on these subsidies to afford health insurance (across states red and blue!) our Congress was unable to come together to find a solution that would extend or replace these subsidies.
Some of us are making contingency plans to find emergency healthcare in Canada and Mexico. Others are simply going without insurance and keeping their fingers crossed for good health. Either way, know that there are resources in San Francisco and beyond that can help–whether you’re looking for PrEP coverage, HIV treatment, basic medical care, trans care, and more.
Here’s a list of resources.
Free and Low-Cost Clinics
Several clinics in the Bay Area offer HIV/AIDS services regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay:
San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s Magnet Sexual Health Clinic: Provides a range of services including PrEP, interim HIV treatment, STI testing and treatment, trans care services, and benefits and navigation support.
This clinic is open to people of all gender identities and sexual orientations, including but not limited to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
San Francisco Community Health Center: SFCHC provides a robust set of services including primary care, trans healthcare, family & reproductive health services, behavioral health services, HIV and hepatitis C testing and treatment, HIV treatment, and mental health services. Their oral health program offers emergency dental care and other cleaning and prevention services.
SFCHC is known for their excellent care and services for transgender communities, and also specializes in care for communities of color, Queer people, unhoused people, and others who may lack access to other forms of healthcare.
Larkin Street Youth Services’ The Michael Baxter Youth Clinic: The medical clinic provides free preventive primary and sexual health care including testing, contraceptives, HIV care, case management, and other wellness services.
The Michael Baxter Youth Clinic offers medical and behavioral health services for people age 25 and under, and specializes in meeting the needs of young people who are unhoused or unstably housed.
La Clínica de La Raza: Provides a robust set of services in the East Bay that includes primary care and HIV-specific services, behavioral health, dental and oral health services, vision and eye care services, family medicine, and additional services for youth.
La Clinica specializes in serving Spanish-speaking clients and other populations of people who benefit from culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
Glen Burke Wellness Center: Based in Oakland and providing a variety of HIV and sexual health services including HIV and STI testing and treatment, Doxy PEP, mpox vaccinations, trans care, PEP & PrEP, anal health care, hepatitis C testing and treatment and more.
The clinic is primarily focused on serving LGBTQ+ communities.
Bay Area Community Health: With clinics in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, Bay Area Community Health provides comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, and HIV services. Their HIV program includes testing, PrEP and PEP, ongoing HIV care, case management, and support services for people living with HIV.
BAC Health, which offers a sliding scale policy, is known for serving diverse populations, including uninsured and underinsured clients.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) – Oakland Healthcare Center: AHF’s Oakland location provides free HIV testing, STI screening and treatment, PrEP and PEP, HIV primary care, and support services.
They welcome everyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status, and specialize in accessible, walk-in care for people living with or at risk for HIV.
HEPPAC (HIV Education and Prevention Project of Alameda County): HEPPAC offers harm reduction, HIV and hepatitis C testing, linkage to care, and syringe exchange programs for people who use drugs and other underserved populations.
Working primarily in Alameda County, they provide culturally competent, nonjudgmental services, including case management, overdose prevention, and access to PrEP and PEP.
Medication & Medical Care Assistance
Kaiser Permanente Community Health Coverage Program (CHCP)
CHCP provides no- or low-cost insurance coverage through Kaiser Permanente to people who qualify. CHCP members are enrolled in the Kaiser Permanent Platinum 90 HMO plan, pay no monthly premium, and pay no out-of-pocket costs for most covered Kaiser services.
You may qualify if your household income is no more than 3x the federal poverty level (up to $46,950 for one person, or $96,450 for a family of 4).
(If you are a person living with HIV, a better and more sustainable option is to enroll in ADAP and its Health Insurance Assistance Program – HIPP.)
Programs for people living with HIV
The AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) provides eligible California residents with free HIV medications and premium payment assistance. Look here for more info or call (844) 421-7050.
If you have Medicare, and are eligible for ADAP, the Medicare Premium Payment Program (MPPP) can pay Medicare Premiums. Visit this page or contact your ADAP Enrollment worker for additional information.
‘The Health Insurance Premium Payment program by the Office of AIDS (OA-HIPP) pays for health insurance premiums and certain out-of-pocket costs for California residents who are also part of ADAP. Enroll through an ADAP enrollment worker or look here for more information on how to enroll.
Program for people who use PrEP or need other sexual healthcare
PrEP-AP is a California program that provides medications and medical care to people at risk for HIV. Services include PrEP, DoxyPEP, PEP, STI treatment and prevention, HIV & STI testing, gender affirming care, and more. For more info, contact a PrEP-AP enrollment site near you.
Other medication resources
Pharmaceutical companies such as Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, and Janssen usually have these programs for their HIV medications. Eligibility often depends on income and insurance type, and they sometimes exclude individuals on government programs like Medicaid or Medicare.
While not a medication assistance program, GoodRx is a tool for comparing prices for prescription medications at pharmacies near you, finding discounts, and accessing coupons to help lower the cost of your meds.
