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PrEP in Miami: How to Get It, What It Costs and Who It Is For

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

PrEP in Miami: How to Get It, What It Costs and Who It Is For

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

PrEP is medicine that lowers the chance of getting HIV. It is one of the most effective prevention tools available, and Miami has several clinics that can help you start it.

This guide covers what PrEP is, who it is for, the different forms, what happens at the first visit, how to get PrEP in Miami, and how HIV PrEP cost and coverage work. It is written for anyone, whatever your gender, orientation or relationship status.

Contents

  1. What PrEP is and how well it works
  2. Who PrEP is for
  3. Daily, on-demand and injectable PrEP
  4. The first visit and lab tests
  5. How to get PrEP in Miami
  6. What PrEP costs and how coverage works
  7. PrEP alongside testing, other prevention and common questions
  8. Sources

Key takeaways

  • The CDC says PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed, and by at least 74% among people who inject drugs.
  • PrEP must be prescribed by a clinician. It starts with an HIV test and some basic lab work.
  • There are daily pills and injectable options. A clinician can explain which fit your situation.
  • The 2019 USPSTF recommendation for PrEP is Grade A. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private plans must cover recommended preventive services without cost sharing.
  • Miami clinics listed on CDC's GetTested site and by the health department include Care Resource, Borinquen Medical Centers, Jessie Trice Community Health System and the University of Miami's PrEP program. Ask each one about price, because most pages do not list one.
  • PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections, so regular testing still matters.

What PrEP is and how well it works

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. "Pre-exposure" means you take it before a possible exposure to HIV. "Prophylaxis" means prevention.

PrEP is for people who do not have HIV. The medicine works by keeping the virus from establishing itself in the body if it ever enters.

How much protection PrEP gives

The CDC reports that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when it is taken as prescribed. For people who inject drugs, the CDC reports a reduction of at least 74%.

The phrase "as prescribed" matters. Protection depends on using the medicine the way a clinician set it up. Results are lower when doses or visits are missed.

How long it takes to work

PrEP does not work the instant you start. The CDC says daily oral PrEP reaches its highest protection after about 7 days for receptive anal sex. For receptive vaginal sex and for injection drug use, the CDC says it takes about 21 days.

Your clinician will tell you when you can count on protection for your situation. Until then, other tools such as condoms help.

What PrEP does not do

PrEP does not prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes or HPV. It also is not a treatment for HIV. People who already have HIV need a different approach, which a clinician will prescribe.

That is why PrEP visits include STI testing. It is part of the package, not an extra.

Why this matters in Miami

FLHealthCHARTS, run by the Florida Department of Health, reports 668 new HIV diagnoses in Miami-Dade County in 2025. That is 23.7 per 100,000 people. The statewide rate for Florida was 15.0 per 100,000, or 3,512 diagnoses.

The same source reports chlamydia at 471.5 per 100,000 in Miami-Dade County, compared with 410.8 statewide. Gonorrhea was 250.5 per 100,000 in the county, compared with 156.5 statewide. Infectious (primary and secondary) syphilis was 16.8 per 100,000 in the county, compared with 12.4 statewide.

These numbers do not describe any one person's risk. They explain why local health agencies put so much effort into testing and prevention here.

Who PrEP is for

The CDC's clinical guidance says clinicians should tell all sexually active adults and adolescents about PrEP. It also says anyone who asks for PrEP should be able to get it, even if they do not name a specific reason.

That is a broad starting point. There is no wrong gender, orientation or relationship type for a PrEP conversation.

Situations where the CDC says PrEP is especially worth discussing

The CDC's guidance points to a few situations where a clinician is likely to recommend it:

  • A partner who has HIV, particularly if their viral load is not consistently undetectable.
  • A diagnosis of a bacterial STI, such as syphilis, gonorrhea or chlamydia, in the past six months.
  • Sex without condoms with partners whose HIV status is unknown or who may be at higher risk.
  • Sharing needles, syringes or other equipment used to inject drugs.
  • Wanting to conceive with a partner who has HIV. A clinician can help plan this safely.

You do not have to fit one of these boxes. If you are unsure, a PrEP or testing clinic can talk it through with you without judgment.

Adults, teens and people who are pregnant

PrEP is used by adults and by adolescents. The CDC guidance sets a minimum weight for some forms, which a clinician will check. Florida law, in Florida Statutes section 384.30, lets a minor of any age consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmissible diseases. It also says that care is confidential and may not be disclosed indirectly, such as by billing a parent or guardian. The statute describes STD examination and treatment, so ask the clinic how it applies to PrEP.

People who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding should tell the prescriber. PrEP can be part of those plans, and a clinician can walk through the details.

PrEP is a choice, not a verdict

Asking about PrEP does not say anything about your character. It is a health decision, similar to getting a vaccine or using a seat belt. Clinics that offer PrEP in Miami talk with people about it every day.

Daily, on-demand and injectable PrEP

There is more than one way to take PrEP. The right one depends on your body, your health history, your schedule and what is available at your clinic.

Only a clinician can prescribe these. This guide does not list doses or schedules, because those are set at your visit.

Daily oral PrEP

This is the form most people know. It is a pill taken once a day. The CDC's guidelines describe it as an established option for people who have sex and for people who inject drugs.

Generic versions of the oral medicines are available, which can lower cost. Your clinician or pharmacist can tell you what is on offer.

Some people notice mild stomach upset or headache in the first weeks. The CDC says these usually settle. Clinicians check kidney function before and during use, because the medicines can affect kidneys in a small number of people.

On-demand (event-driven) PrEP, often called 2-1-1

On-demand PrEP means taking the medicine around sex rather than every day. One version is known by the shorthand "2-1-1." It has been studied mainly in men who have sex with men.

It is not the standard U.S. approach. It is not FDA-approved as a regimen, and the CDC's main guidance centers on daily use. It is not a good fit for everyone, including people with certain hepatitis B or kidney concerns, or people who inject drugs.

If this option interests you, bring it up at the visit. A clinician can say whether it is appropriate for you and how it would be set up. Do not start it on your own from something you read online.

Injectable PrEP

Injectable PrEP is given by a clinician instead of taken as a pill. The injections are spaced months apart, so people do not need to think about it daily. The FDA has approved injectable options, and the CDC has issued guidance on the first of them.

Injectable PrEP can suit people who find it hard to take a daily pill, who want more privacy or who want a longer gap between doses. It still needs an HIV test before each injection visit. Availability varies by clinic, so ask which injectable options a clinic currently offers.

Choosing between them

Questions worth bringing to the visit:

  • Which forms does this clinic prescribe, and which does my plan cover?
  • What follow-up visits are needed for each one?
  • How will I know how long to continue?
  • What should I do if I miss a dose or an appointment?

The first visit and lab tests

A PrEP visit is usually simple. It often takes one appointment, sometimes with a short wait for lab results.

What the clinician asks

The clinician will ask about your health, any medicines you take, and your sexual and drug-use history. These questions are medical, not moral. The answers help the clinician choose the right form and testing.

You can ask the clinician to explain why they are asking anything. Everything you share is covered by medical privacy rules.

Lab tests before you start

The CDC's PrEP guidelines call for these baseline checks:

  • An HIV test. PrEP is only for people who do not have HIV, so a clinician confirms this first. The test type matters because of the window period, explained below.
  • Kidney function for oral PrEP.
  • Hepatitis B testing, because it affects which medicine is chosen and how stopping is handled. Hepatitis C testing is also commonly offered.
  • STI testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, taken from the sites where exposure may occur, such as throat, rectum or genitals.
  • A pregnancy test when relevant.

The HIV test window period

The CDC says that after an exposure, different tests can detect HIV at different times. A nucleic acid test (NAT) can usually detect HIV 10 to 33 days after exposure. An antigen/antibody test done on blood from a vein can usually detect it 18 to 45 days after exposure. A rapid antigen/antibody test done on a finger stick can take 18 to 90 days. Antibody tests can take 23 to 90 days.

If you have had a recent possible exposure, tell the clinician. They may add a test or adjust the plan. There is also a separate option called PEP, covered below, for exposures within the last few days.

Follow-up visits

The CDC's guidance for oral PrEP includes follow-up about every three months. Each visit usually has a repeat HIV test, an STI check and a conversation about how things are going. Injectable PrEP has its own follow-up pattern, which the clinic will explain.

These visits keep PrEP safe and effective. They are also a regular chance to get STI testing without a separate trip.

How to get PrEP in Miami

If you are asking how to get PrEP, the practical answer is: find a clinic or primary care provider that prescribes it, book or walk in for a visit, and complete the baseline labs. The sections below list real Miami options.

Hours, services and walk-in policies can change. Call before you go. Several of these details come from CDC's GetTested listings, which note that hours may change.

Start with the state PrEP locator

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County links to a provider locator for PrEP and nPEP on its HIV/AIDS page. The page describes it as a way to find locations that can provide pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. You can open the Florida DOH PrEP and nPEP provider locator to see current options.

Care Resource

Care Resource is a federally qualified health center. Its Midtown Miami location at 3510 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33137 lists PrEP and PEP among its services, along with STI and HIV testing. Phone: 305-576-1234.

Care Resource lists testing hours of Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDC's GetTested listing says an appointment is not required for testing. Care Resource says it offers a sliding fee scale for people who are uninsured or underinsured, and accepts most insurance plans.

Its Little Havana site at 1800 S.W. 1st Street, Miami, FL 33135 lists no-cost rapid HIV testing. The pages I reviewed do not say whether PrEP is prescribed at that site, so call 305-576-1234 to ask.

Borinquen Medical Centers

Borinquen Medical Centers' main office is at 3601 Federal Hwy, Miami, FL 33137. Phone: 305-576-6611. CDC's GetTested lists STI and HIV testing, PrEP navigation and PrEP for uninsured clients. It also lists free HIV and STI tests and says an appointment is not required. Borinquen accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, and lists a sliding scale.

Jessie Trice Community Health System

The main center is at 5361 NW 22nd Ave, Miami, FL 33147. Phone: 305-637-6400. CDC's GetTested lists HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea testing, plus PrEP navigation. It lists insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale, and says an appointment is not required. The listing does not include syphilis testing for this site, so ask when you call.

UM Rapid Access Wellness Clinic and PrEP Program

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine runs this program at 1120 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136. Phone: 305-243-2584. CDC's GetTested lists HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI tests as free, and lists PrEP for uninsured clients. It says an appointment is required.

Pridelines in Miami Beach

Pridelines, an LGBTQ+ community center at 1130 Washington Ave, First Floor, Miami Beach, FL 33139, runs a program called Thrivelines. Phone: 305-571-9601. Its page describes HIV testing as fast, free and confidential. For PrEP and PEP, the page points people to outside prescribers and pharmacy partners rather than prescribing on site. Pridelines is in Miami Beach, not the City of Miami, and also does mobile testing across Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties.

The health department's STI clinics

The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County runs STI clinics at the Health District Center (1350 NW 14th St., Suite 350, Miami, FL 33125) and West Perrine Health Center (18255 Homestead Ave., Miami, FL 33157). Call 305-575-3800 to schedule. The department's STI page says, "We offer low or no-cost testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV."

That page lists testing. It does not list PrEP prescribing at these sites, so call the department's disease control line at 305-470-5660 or use the locator above to find a prescriber.

If you need a local testing list

PrEP starts with an HIV test and STI screening. If you want to see where to get tested in the city first, the guide to STD testing in Miami, where to get tested and what it costs lists local clinics. You can also use CDC's GetTested site at gettested.cdc.gov to look up testing locations by address.

What PrEP costs and how coverage works

HIV PrEP cost depends on three things: your insurance, the form of PrEP and the clinic. Prices vary, and none of the Miami clinic pages reviewed list a PrEP price. The honest answer to "how much will it cost me" is to ask the clinic before booking.

Insurance and the Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gave PrEP a Grade A recommendation in 2019 for people at increased risk of HIV. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private health plans must cover services with an A or B grade without charging a copay or deductible, when delivered in-network. Federal guidance has said that this includes the lab tests and clinic visits that go with PrEP, not only the medicine.

There are exceptions. Some older grandfathered plans are not covered by this rule. Medicaid and Medicare have their own rules. Check your plan documents, call the number on your insurance card, or ask the clinic's billing staff to run a benefits check.

If you are uninsured or underinsured

Several Miami clinics on this page mention options for people without full coverage:

  • Care Resource says it provides services on a sliding fee scale for people who are uninsured or underinsured.
  • Borinquen Medical Centers lists "PrEP for uninsured" and a sliding scale in its GetTested entry.
  • The UM Rapid Access Wellness Clinic and PrEP Program lists "PrEP for uninsured" in its GetTested entry.
  • Jessie Trice Community Health System lists a sliding scale and PrEP navigation. Its listing does not mention free services.

The clinics do not publish the exact amounts, eligibility rules or how long assistance lasts. Ask each one directly. Say plainly that you are asking about cost, because staff can often find options you would not know to ask about.

Medication assistance and navigation

Many clinics have staff who help people find drug assistance, sign up for coverage or complete paperwork. This is often called PrEP navigation. Care Resource, Borinquen, Jessie Trice and the University of Miami program all list PrEP-related services on their CDC GetTested entries.

I did not find a current statewide free-PrEP program in the Florida health department materials I reviewed. The Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) exists, but it is for people who already have HIV and is not a PrEP program. For the latest on assistance in Miami-Dade, contact the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County at 305-470-5660.

Costs beyond the medicine

Ask about these separately:

  • The office visit fee
  • Baseline and follow-up lab tests
  • Pharmacy dispensing costs for pills
  • Administration fees for injections

Getting an estimate for each part helps you avoid surprises. If the first number sounds out of reach, ask whether another clinic or a different form of PrEP would cost less.

PrEP alongside testing, other prevention and common questions

PrEP is one layer of protection. It works best with regular testing and, when you want them, other tools.

Regular testing

The CDC says anyone on PrEP should be tested for HIV and other STIs on a regular schedule. Because PrEP does not prevent other infections, the quarterly visits are also your STI check. Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician. Herpes and HPV can be managed but not cured. HIV is treatable, and a clinician can start treatment quickly after a diagnosis.

The Florida Department of Health says it offers free HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis testing on its HIV Prevention page, and "low or no-cost" testing on its STI clinic page. Confirm which applies when you book.

Free HIV home tests

Miami-Dade County residents can order a free HIV home test kit through the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. Care Resource also offers a no-cost HIV home test for people ages 14 and older who live in Miami-Dade or Broward, are not HIV-positive and have not tested in the last three months. You can order online or call 305-576-1234, extension 352.

A home test is not a substitute for the lab tests a PrEP prescriber orders. It can be a private first step, and the result can be discussed with a clinician.

PEP: after a possible exposure

PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is a different tool. It is a short course of HIV medicine a clinician can prescribe after a possible exposure. The CDC says it must be started within 72 hours. If you think you may have been exposed in the past few days, treat it as time sensitive and contact a clinic, urgent care or emergency department right away. The Florida health department's PrEP and nPEP locator can help.

Care Resource lists PEP among its services. Whether and how fast a clinic can provide it varies, so call first if you can.

Doxy-PEP for bacterial STIs

In 2024, the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex to reduce the chance of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea. The guidance applies to specific groups: men who have sex with men and transgender women who have had a bacterial STI in the past year. A clinician decides whether it fits and writes the prescription. The Pridelines page mentions doxy-PEP navigation, though it does not prescribe on site. I did not find a confirmed Miami doxy-PEP prescriber listing, so ask your PrEP clinician.

Condoms and other tools

Condoms lower the chance of many STIs, including some that PrEP does not cover. Vaccines help against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and HPV. Care Resource, Borinquen and Jessie Trice list HPV vaccination among their services. Syringe service programs and not sharing injection equipment matter for people who inject drugs.

None of these tools has to be all or nothing. People often mix them depending on the partner and the situation.

Common questions

Do I have to tell my partner I am on PrEP?

No. That is a personal choice. Many people find it helpful to mention it, but nobody is required to. Florida law, in Fla. Stat. section 384.24, has disclosure rules for people who have been told they have certain infections, including HIV. Taking PrEP does not put you in that category, though a lawyer or the health department can answer legal questions specifically.

How long do I stay on PrEP?

It depends on your circumstances. Some people use it for a season of life and some for years. A clinician can help you decide when to continue and when stopping makes sense. Ask about how to stop safely, especially if you have hepatitis B.

Can I use PrEP if I have a long-term health condition?

Often yes, but a clinician needs to review it. Kidney disease, liver disease and some medicines can change the choice. Bring a list of everything you take.

What if I cannot get to a clinic during the day?

The Florida Department of Health STI clinics list weekday hours only, ending at 3:30 p.m. Care Resource lists weekday hours ending at 4:30 p.m. If those are hard to reach, ask about telehealth, mobile services or later appointments. Pridelines runs mobile testing across the region.

Where can I get free or low-cost testing before I decide?

Use the clinics above, CDC's GetTested site, or the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County at 305-470-5660. The HIV testing line is 786-792-5269.

A simple plan for this week

  1. Decide which clinic is practical for you by location and hours.
  2. Call and ask whether they prescribe PrEP, what the visit costs and whether you need an appointment.
  3. Have your insurance card ready, or ask about the sliding scale.
  4. Write down your questions about the form of PrEP, side effects and follow-up.
  5. Go to the visit and complete the baseline tests.

If you are not ready for PrEP, a free or low-cost HIV and STI test is still a solid first step. It gives you information, and a clinician can discuss PrEP with you at the same visit.

Sources