HIV Support & Health Navigation

We offer a range of services that help connect you to HIV treatment, benefits, insurance, and long-term HIV care.

For more information or to access services, call our navigation team at 415-437-3450 or email assist4HIV@sfaf.org.

Newly diagnosed with HIV, but don’t have healthcare? Just moved to the area and need help getting connected to an HIV healthcare provider? Had trouble accessing HIV care in the past and want to get re-connected? 

San Francisco offers a variety of options for HIV care and treatment, but they can be difficult to navigate. We’re here to help.

We can help you get into HIV care, start or re-start HIV treatment, enroll in financial assistance programs, sign up for health insurance, complete lab work, and more. Although we do not provide long-term HIV care, we can help you get established and transfer your care to a primary care provider who will see you on a regular basis.

Starting HIV Medications

One of the goals of HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to get your viral load down to undetectable levels. You’ll have better health if you’re undetectable, and you won’t transmit HIV to others. In San Francisco, health care providers aim to get people started on HIV medications the very same day they are diagnosed.

For people newly diagnosed with HIV at one of our testing sites, we offer rapid HIV treatment starts. If you are ready to begin treatment, we provide lab work and medication the same day of diagnosis.

Re-starting HIV Medications

If you are living with HIV and not on treatment, we can help you complete lab work, re-start medication, and get back into medical care.

For assistance re-starting HIV medications, contact our navigation team at 415-437-3450, or email assist4HIV@sfaf.org.

HIV Meds for Emergency Situations

We can provide HIV medications to people who are running out of medications or otherwise don’t have access to their medication in some circumstances. If you are traveling in the Bay Area, and lose your medication or run out, contact our navigation team at 415-437-3450 or email assist4HIV@sfaf.org.

Living with HIV and in need of support? Having problems navigating insurance or other assistance programs? We are here to give you individual attention and help you take charge of your health and get the care you need.

Our services include:

• Assistance with enrolling in and obtaining health insurance and benefits
• Referrals to healthcare providers & clinics for HIV primary care
• Enrollment in AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
• Mental health referrals
• Support in obtaining identification
• Referrals to alcohol and/or drug treatment programs

All services are free and available to people living with HIV in the San Francisco Bay Area. Contact our health navigation team for more information.

For eligible California residents, the AIDS Drug Assistance (ADAP) program provides free HIV medications and payment assistance for people with private health insurance or Medicare Part D.

To be eligible for the ADAP program, you must:

• Be a resident of California;
• Have a positive HIV/AIDS diagnosis;
• Be at least 18 years old;
• Have an annual Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) that does not exceed 500% Federal Poverty Level based on household size and income;
• Not be fully covered by Medi-Cal or any other third party payers.

If you need to enroll in ADAP, call our navigation team at 415-437-3450, press option #2, or email assist4HIV@sfaf.org.

Friends, loved ones and other forms of social support not only improve your quality of life, they can help you through the tough times you might encounter. We have a variety of social support groups and events to help you meet new people, establish friendships and find a community of belonging.