Yes, PrEP is free for most British Columbia residents that have public or private insurance.

Yes, PrEP is available for prescription in Canada. Here are the guidelines for prescribing PrEP and PEP.

You have two options for accessing PrEP in BC.

Patients without private insurance will need to visit one of the clinics through The BC Centre for Excellence.

Patients with private insurance can likely get their PrEP for free and online through Freddie. All you need to do is book a free virtual PrEP consultation and we’ll walk you through the rest of the steps.

In order to qualify for PrEP, you must:

- Display a high risk for acquiring HIV, based on provincial guidelines.

- Be HIV negative.

- Be able to healthily tolerate the medication.

- Receive a prescription from a medical professional licensed in your province.

- Consistently participate in standard testing to re-confirm your HIV status and medication tolerance.

No, you cannot access PrEP over the counter. You must have a prescription in order to access PrEP.

PrEP reduces HIV risk by 99% when taken as prescribed, but it does not prevent other STIs.

Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, prevent the transmission of HIV by 98%.

It is recommended to use both PrEP and condoms for maximum protection.

With provincial or private insurance, PrEP is usually $0 per month.

Without insurance, the monthly cost of PrEP is around $250.

If you meet the clinical criteria for PrEP, based on your HIV risk, you can get PrEP through:

Public insurance in BC - you can physically visit a local clinic to obtain PrEP for $0.

Private insurance in BC - you can skip the waiting room and get your PrEP virtually through Freddie. Most Freddie patients get the newest version of PrEP with fewer side effects for free.

For those without insurance, there are additional financial aid programs through which PrEP can be obtained for free.