PrEP in Connecticut — pre-exposure prophylaxis, who qualifies, how to start

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a daily pill (Truvada, Descovy) or every-two-months injection (Apretude) that prevents HIV in people who don't have HIV. Taken as prescribed, daily-pill PrEP reduces the risk of sexually transmitted HIV by about 99% and the risk from injection-drug sharing by about 74%, per CDC. In Connecticut, PrEP is available through primary-care providers, FQHCs, LGBTQ+ community health centers, and Ryan White Part C clinics — you do not need to see an HIV specialist to start.

To qualify for PrEP you need a recent negative HIV test (or one done the same day), a baseline labs panel (kidney function, hepatitis B, STIs), and a prescriber visit. Follow-up is every three months for a repeat HIV test and medication refill. Most insurance including Medicaid covers PrEP with zero out-of-pocket under the USPSTF Grade A preventive-services rule. The drug manufacturers (Gilead, ViiV) operate patient-assistance programs for anyone without insurance.

Connecticut operates Connecticut PrEP Drug Assistance Program (CT PrEP-DAP), layered on top of the federal Ready, Set, PrEP program. Eligibility in Connecticut goes up to 400% of the federal poverty line, which covers clinician visits, lab work, and medication. Apply through the state HIV program line at 1-860-509-7801 or any community HIV organization that holds a state PrEP navigation contract.

Black PrEP uptake nationally lags sharply — a 2023 AIDSVu analysis found that Black Americans account for 42% of new HIV diagnoses but only 14% of PrEP users. Long-time Black residents name Yale New Haven Hospital Nathan Smith Clinic and Hartford HealthCare Hispanic Health Council as the local institutions that show up consistently — both are listed below.

Yale New Haven Hospital Nathan Smith Clinic. The Nathan Smith Clinic at Yale New Haven Hospital is the largest Ryan White Part C clinic in Connecticut, serving New Haven, Bridgeport, and Waterbury with a combined population of over 2,400 patients and the state's only HIV pediatric-to-adult transition program.

Hartford HealthCare Hispanic Health Council. The Hispanic Health Council in Hartford runs the Part B contracted case management for the North-Central HIV Health Service Planning Region and has co-located PrEP navigation with Community Health Services on Albany Avenue since 2020.