PrEP IS NOW FREE FOR
THOSE WITHOUT MEDICARE
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No Medicare?
No worries!
If you’re living in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, but don’t have Medicare, then we have some good news:
You may now be able to access PrEP for free!
Haven’t heard about PrEP before? Let us explain! PrEP is a pill that protects you from HIV. It is used by many gay and bisexual men living in Australia and around the world.
We encourage all gay and bisexual men to consider taking PrEP if it’s right for their circumstances.
WHO cAN gET fREE PrEP?
This program is intended to offer free PrEP and checkups for people who don’t have Medicare, and:
- are living in Australia for more than a short-term stay
- meet the medical guidelines, making you eligible for PrEP
That means a person on a working, working-holiday or student visa may be eligible.
Sexually active gay and bisexual men are usually considered at risk of HIV transmission and meet the medical criteria. This can extend to anyone who is at risk of HIV transmission, not just gay and bisexual men.
HOW TO GET FREE PrEP
Get PrEP in person at a NSW public sexual health clinic
To access free PrEP in person, either book in with any NSW public sexual health clinic or a[TEST].
- Calling the NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL) 1800 451 624 and making a booking
- Or book directly with one of these clinics
Make sure to mention you are Medicare-ineligible and you’d like to get free PrEP.
Get PrEP posted to you with NSW Sexual Health InfoLink (SHIL)
To get PrEP posted to you, call NSW Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624 and mention you are interested in starting PrEP, having it posted to you, and that you are Medicare-ineligible.
If you are already accessing free PrEP through a sexual health clinic, you must continue accessing it this way.
Get PrEP for free at a[TEST]
Get PrEP at your next a[TEST] visit. Simply book a test at a[TEST], and during your visit mention you would like to get free PrEP & that you are Medicare -ineligible.
Depending which a[TEST] site you visit, you’ll either be able to walk away with PrEP on the same day, or pick it up from a nearby clinic soon after.
access services with an interpreter
Interpreters are available when calling sexual health clinics and the NSW Sexual Health InfoLink. Just request to be connected to a translator when you call.
Sometimes interpreters won’t be immediately available, and the clinic or NSW Sexual Health Infolink will need to call you back at a later time.
If you prefer, you can get a friend who speaks English to help you make the booking. If you take this approach, your friend would call the sexual health clinic, request an interpreter, and once the interpreter is on the phone, you can make the booking yourself directly in your own language.
