Answer a few questions and book a free consult with a Freddie clinician (20-30 minutes)
Get some basic tests 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.
Your results are reviewed by your Freddie clinician. If HIV PrEP is safe for you, your prescription will be delivered confidentially to your door!
Most Freddie patients with private insurance in Montreal get PrEP for free.
Let us help you make PrEP in Quebec as affordable as possible.
The cost of PrEP in Quebec varies based on your insurance coverage and age.
Without private insurance, with RAMQ: PrEP usually costs $95/month. Unfortunately, Freddie is not able to serve RAMQ patients at this time due to funding limitations. We recommend you visit a PrEP prescriber listed here.
With private insurance: Freddie helps 85%+ of those with private insurance access PrEP for free!
For a quick estimate of what PrEP would cost you, please pick the description that matches your status below.
If you have private insurance, the cost of PrEP has historically been ~$50 per month (but it depends on the policy).
However, 85%+ of Freddie patients with private insurance can now obtain Descovy, the newest form of PrEP with fewer side effects, for free!
During our free consultation with you, we’ll help you verify your insurance coverage and find a path in which your PrEP is as close to $0 as possible.
If you are covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), the cost of PrEP is $95.31 per month at most, unless you have received an exemption.
You can read more about exceptions here.
Unfortunately, Freddie is not able to serve RAMQ patients at this time due to funding limitations.
We recommend you visit a PrEP prescriber listed here.
First Nations individuals and Inuit may access PrEP at no cost through the federal Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program.
PrEP is covered under NIHB even if a designated PrEP prescriber does not issue the prescription.
Unfortunately, Freddie is not able to serve RAMQ patients at this time due to funding limitations.
We recommend you visit a PrEP prescriber listed here.
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) covers certain healthcare benefits (including PrEP) for resettled refugees, refugee claimants, and certain other groups until they become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.
Unfortunately, Freddie is not able to serve RAMQ patients at this time due to funding limitations.
We recommend you visit a PrEP prescriber listed here.
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.
*Only available for patients with private insurance at this time.
If you have private insurance, Freddie will help you access financial assistance programs that bring your cost of PrEP down to $0.
If you have RAMQ, in April of 2021, Quebec enacted a regulation which limited services like Freddie from providing financial assistance for prescriptions. While Freddie is not able to serve RAMQ patients at this time, here are additional financial assistance programs you may be able to access:
This program provides benefits for First Nations registered under the Indian Act and Inuit who are recognized by an Inuit land claim organization.
You can read more about this program here.
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.
You can read more about this program's eligibility here.
This program covers anyone that has a Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) health card.
You can read more about this program here.
Descovy was developed by Gilead to lessen the (few) potential side effects associated with traditional PrEP, particularly with kidney and bone health.
Only patients with private insurance have coverage for Descovy at this time.
Due to funding limitations, Freddie is not able to offer PrEP to Quebec patients without private insurance at this time.
We’re committed to reducing the transmission of HIV, even if it’s not through us!
Patients without private insurance will need to visit one of the clinics covered by RAMQ (clinics listed below) to access PrEP in Quebec.
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.
Patients with private insurance can skip the wait and book an online PrEP appointment now.
1001 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Est bureau 1130 11e étage, Montréal, QC H2L 4P9
514-524-1001
* Offers PEP
2.9
Tower A, 1470 Rue Peel #850, Montréal, QC - H3A 1T1
514-787-6787
* Offers PEP, but is not currently taking new patients
4.1
Prefer to start your PrEP journey from the comfort of your home? Try Freddie for free today!
85% of patients with private insurance get PrEP for free through Freddie.
It can be hard to talk about your sexual health. At Freddie, our inclusive clinicians “get” LGBTQ2S+ health. No judgement, no hassle.
Understanding insurance coverage can be a hassle. We'll work with you to find the lowest cost option.
*Only available for patients with private insurance at this time.
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.
No one should be made to feel uncomfortable about their sexual health.
Our medical staff provides affirming and evidence-driven care, without judgement.
*Only available for patients with private insurance at this time.
There are 3 forms of PrEP medication approved in Montreal:
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 is a brand name PrEP medication developed by Gilead Sciences.
Truvada is approved for use in Quebec, 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 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 Montreal, provincial plans and almost every private insurance plan partially cover generic Truvada.
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.
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.
If you’d like to read Canada’s medical guidelines on prescribing PrEP and PEP, you can do so here.
Unfortunately, Freddie isn't able to prescribe HIV PrEP to RAMQ patients at this time.
We can only serve patients with some level of private insurance, because Freddie is not set up to receive funding from RAMQ (which would allow us to work with patients in the public system).
We hope that we will be able to serve RAMQ patients in the future.
The cost of PrEP in Montreal depends on your insurance coverage. For those with provincial insurance, the monthly cost is $93.51 at most.
With Freddie, 85% of patients with private insurance get Descovy as a form of PrEP for free.
PrEP is free in Montreal for certain groups:
Your Freddie clinician will help you navigate your insurance and financial aid options to get PrEP for as low-cost as possible.
Yes, the cost of PrEP is partially or fully covered based on your insurance.
If you're on RAMQ, the monthly price for generic PrEP is $93.51 at most.
With Freddie, 85% of patients with private insurance get Descovy as a form of PrEP for free.
Freddie is the fastest way to get PrEP in Montreal.
This is because we offer our service online, have multiple LGBTQ2S+ trained clinicians to answer all of your questions, and deliver right to your door.
If you'd like to go through the PrEP journey in-person, there are multiple other services that also provide PrEP (listed above).
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.
