PrEP for HIV in Hamilton, ON

Get PrEP prescribed online & delivered discreetly in Hamilton.

No more awkward doctor visits or hassle. Welcome to Freddie.

90%+ of Freddie patients in Hamilton get PrEP for free.

PrEP Clinic in Hamilton, ON

Get PrEP prescribed online & delivered discreetly in Hamilton.

No more awkward doctor visits or hassle. Welcome to Freddie.

90%+ of Freddie patients in Hamilton get PrEP for free.

PrEP from the comfort of your phone

PrEP for HIV in Hamilton, ON

Get PrEP prescribed online & delivered discreetly in Hamilton.

No more awkward doctor visits or hassle. Welcome to Freddie.

90%+ of Freddie patients in Hamilton get PrEP for free.

Brooke
Lynn Hytes

How to get PrEP in Hamilton

With Freddie: 3 steps
With other providers: 10+ steps

find out if PrEP is for you with a short questionnaire
1.

Short questionnaire & phone call

Answer a few questions and book a free consult with a Freddie clinician (20-30 minutes)

visit a lab
2.

Complete your lab work

Get some basic tests in-home or at a local clinic so we can determine if PrEP is safe for you (it is for the vast majority of people!).

We'll help you figure out your testing site options.

get a PrEP prescription to your home
3.

Get your prescription

Your results are reviewed by your Freddie clinician. If HIV PrEP is safe for you, your prescription will be delivered confidentially to your door!

HIV prevention meds shouldn't be a hassle

Freddie makes HIV prevention medication easy by offering online care, financial assistance, and free discreet delivery in Ontario.

Get Started Today

Cost and price of PrEP in Hamilton

The cost of PrEP in Hamilton varies based on your age and insurance coverage.

Luckily, Freddie has financial assistance programs to help everyone access free or lower cost PrEP.

For a quick estimate of what PrEP would cost you, please pick the description that matches your status below.

With OHIP, 24 years old and younger
$0

Ontario residents 24 years and younger are fully covered by OHIP+, as long as they are not on a private insurance plan.

If you have a private insurance plan, we'll help you access PrEP for $0 through a combination of your private insurance and Freddie's financial assistance program!

We'll verify this during our free consult with you and help you find the best option.

With OHIP, 25 years old and older, no private insurance
$150
(at most)

The cost of PrEP is typically $250/month, but Freddie will help you lower this through its financial assistance program.

We can also help you apply for the Trillium drug insurance program which can help you lower the cost of PrEP further, and potentially make it free.

Book a free consult with us and we’ll work with you to see if we can get it even lower!

With OHIP, 25 years old and older, with private insurance
$0

The cost of PrEP is typically $250/month.

Most insurance plans cover 80% of the cost of PrEP, so $200. Freddie will help you lower the remaining co-pay of $50 down to $0 through its financial assistance program.

Book a free consult with us and we'll help you get PrEP for $0!

Without OHIP, with private insurance
$0

The cost of PrEP is typically $250/month.

Most insurance plans cover 80% of the cost of PrEP, so $200. Freddie will help you lower the remaining co-pay of $50 down to $0 through its financial assistance program.

Book a free consult with us and we'll help you get PrEP for $0!

Without OHIP, without private insurance
$150
(at most)

It’s usually $250/month, but Freddie will provide you with financial assistance.

Book a free consult with us and we’ll work with you to see if we can get it even lower!

65 years or older
$0

You are covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit plan (ODB).

We'll verify this during our free consult with you and help you access PrEP for free!

For a more in-depth look, take our one-minute questionnaire now and
book a free consultation with one of our LGBTQ2S+ inclusive clinicians today.

Financial assistance and insurance support with Freddie

In addition to helping you navigate public and private insurance, Freddie offers financial assistance programs to make PrEP as affordable as possible in three ways:

Program 1: (Almost) everyone with insurance pays a $0 co-pay with Freddie

While most private insurance plans cover PrEP, they usually do not cover the full cost. This forces most patients to pay a "co-pay."

PrEP medication costs around $250/month in Hamilton, and most insurance plans cover 80% of the cost, although this varies from 50% to 100%.

This translates into most insurances covering $200 of the $250, leaving the patient to pay the additional $50/month out of pocket.

At Freddie, we provide financial assistance to help almost everyone bring their co-pay down to $0.

Program 2: Financial support for those without private insurance

If you do not have private insurance, you can apply to the Trillium Drug Program.

Trillium is a prescription drug coverage program run by the Ministry of Health that is open to everyone in Hamilton with OHIP. 

However, even with Trillium, PrEP can be expensive.

Freddie wants to make PrEP affordable to everyone, so we offer a financial assistance program that helps with your Trillium costs.

Depending on your income, PrEP will either be free or low-cost!

Program 3: Three months of free PrEP while you wait for your coverage

Getting coverage for PrEP can take a few months. Freddie helps you get on PrEP right away. 

This was created specifically for patients who:

  • Just moved to a new province and are waiting for your coverage to kick in
  • Just applied for Trillium and are waiting for your application to be processed
  • Switched jobs and are waiting for your new benefits to kick in

Worried about the cost of PrEP stopping you? Our clinicians are here to help you get PrEP for free or as cost-affordable as possible. Book a free consultation today and we'll answer all of your questions.

Other financial assistance programs

OHIP+: Covers Ontario residents 24 and younger

Ontario residents 24 years and younger are fully covered by OHIP+, as long as they are not on a private insurance plan. 

OHIP+ coverage ends after you reach your 25th birthday.

Trillium: Helps Ontario residents better afford high-cost prescription drugs

The Trillium Drug Program offers financial aid for Ontarians to help them pay for their high prescription-drug costs.

You should consider applying if you:

  • Reside in Ontario
  • Have a valid Ontario health card
  • Do not already qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit program (ex: Ontario Works)
  • Do not have an insurance plan that covers 100% of your prescription drug costs
  • Spend 4% or more of your post-tax household income on prescription drugs
Additional Programs: Other federal programs that offer prescription drug coverage for PrEP

Beyond the aforementioned provincial assistance programs, there are a few federal programs that offer prescription drug coverage and will cover the price of PrEP:

The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program: This program provides benefits for First Nations registered under the Indian Act and Inuit who are recognized by an Inuit land claim organization.

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP): This program covers certain healthcare benefits for resettled refugees, refugee claimants, and certain other groups until they become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.

The Treatment Benefits Program: This program covers anyone that has a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) health card.

Ontario Disability Support Program: Provincial aid is offered through Service Ontario for Ontarians with continuous or recurrent impairment or disability under this program. Under ODSP, a benefit member is eligible for drug coverage if income support is being paid on their behalf.

Ontario Works: This program may be an option, as it provides support with health benefits and financial assistance for housing, food, and other living costs.

See if you qualify for $0 PrEP

Most Freddie patients in Hamilton get PrEP for free.
Let us help you make PrEP as affordable as possible.

Get PrEP for free

Freddie is the #1 PrEP provider in Hamilton

Unfiltered and honest reviews!

Sexual health clinics in Hamilton that offer PrEP [Alternatives to Freddie]

We’re committed to reducing the transmission of HIV, even if it’s not through us!

We recommend you call ahead before visiting other clinics because:

1. Their availability can change.
2. Some clinics may not be accepting new patients.
3. Some clinics may not accept you without a referral.

Hamilton has limited options for local clinics that specialize in PrEP prescriptions. If you're looking for additional options, we recommend you book an appointment with your family doctor.

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Get PrEP for $0

Prefer to start your PrEP journey from the comfort of your home? Try Freddie for free today!

Try Freddie (it's free)

Why Hamilton patients love Freddie

convenient healthcare

#1 in patient care

It can be hard to talk about your sexual health. At Freddie, our inclusive clinicians “get” LGBTQ2S+ health. No judgement, no hassle.

affirming & LGBTQ+ friendly clinicians

Free or low cost PrEP

With Freddie's unique financial assistance programs, the vast majority of patients in Hamilton pay $0, including those who currently have insurance co-pays.

We'll work with you to find the lowest cost option.

free or low cost PrEP

Quick, discreet delivery

All delivered prescriptions come in unmarked packages, so you do not need to worry about nosy neighbours or roommates.

Or you can pick-up from a local pharmacy.

Get the sexual healthcare you deserve

No one should be made to feel uncomfortable about their sexual health.

Our medical staff provides affirming and evidence-driven care, without judgement.

Get Started Today

Types of PrEP medication available in Hamilton

There are 3 forms of PrEP medication approved in Hamilton:

1. Name-Brand Truvada
2. Generic Truvada
3. Descovy

All three forms of PrEP are 99% effective in preventing HIV infection when taken as prescribed.

Truvada (Name-brand)

Truvada is a brand name PrEP medication developed by Gilead Sciences.

Truvada is approved for use in Hamilton, but is not covered by provincial health plans.

As a result, out-of-pocket costs, even with private health insurance, can be as high as $800/month.

This is why Freddie focuses on offering affordable alternatives instead.

Generic Truvada ("Generic PrEP")

Generic PrEP, or “generic Truvada”, is the generic version of Truvada.

It has the exact same active ingredients and is also 99% effective at preventing HIV, but is a fraction of the cost.

In Hamilton, provincial plans and almost every private insurance plan cover generic Truvada.

With Freddie, over 90% of patients get generic Truvada for free.

Descovy

Descovy was developed by Gilead to lessen the (few) potential side effects associated with Truvada, particularly with kidney and bone health.

If you have private insurance, Freddie can help you get Descovy for free! Descovy is covered by most private insurance plans, and Freddie will help you get your co-pay waived by enrolling you in a financial assistance program.

However, if you do not have private insurance, the out-of-pocket cost of Descovy is ~$950/month. Descovy is not covered by provincial health insurance.

With Freddie, 85% of patients with private insurance get Descovy for free.

Due to differences in individual needs, it is important to refer to a healthcare professional and find out which option is best for you.

Additional questions you may have

Where can I find the guidelines for prescribing PrEP in Hamilton?

If you’d like to read Canada’s medical guidelines on prescribing PrEP and PEP, you can do so here.

Is PrEP covered by OHIP+?

Yes, PrEP is fully covered by OHIP+ as long as you are not currently enrolled in an additional private insurance plan.

This coverage ends when you reach the age of 25.

Can I get PrEP over the counter?

No, you cannot receive PrEP over the counter. You need a prescription first.

Do I need a prescription for PrEP?

Yes, you’ll need to be issued a prescription by an approved medical professional to obtain PrEP in Hamilton.

Freddie will guide you through the necessary steps to obtain a PrEP prescription through a free consultation with one of our expert clinicians.

Can I transfer my PrEP prescription from outside of the region? Or do I have to start the process all over again?

That usually depends on what part of the PrEP journey you’re in.

Just tell your Freddie clinician about any history with PrEP and they’ll guide you through the next steps.

Convinced yet?

We're impressed that you made it this far. 😳

If this page hasn't convinced you yet, set up a free call with us and we'll address your concerns.

We really think you'll like us.

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