How Much Is Descovy Without Insurance?

There is no vaccine or cure for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but medical advancements have turned the once-deadly virus into a manageable chronic condition. With antiretroviral therapy, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives and achieve an undetectable viral load — which means they can’t transmit the virus through sex.

There are also treatments known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which can help people at higher risk of getting HIV prevent infection through sex. These treatments have proved to be effective. In fact, PrEP lowers the risk of getting HIV by about 99%. But these medications can also be costly.

Descovy (emtricitabine / tenofovir alafenamide) is a daily tablet available by prescription that can be used as PrEP. It can also be used with other medications to treat HIV. Descovy is preferred by some people because of its easy-to-take size, which is similar to a breath mint. But because this brand-name medication has no generic option, you may pay a hefty price if you don’t have insurance.

How much does Descovy cost?

The manufacturer’s list price for Descovy is about $2,200 for a monthly supply (30 tablets), but that’s not typically the price you will pay. Some average retail prices for common dosages of Descovy are shown in the chart below.

Descovy costs

Which factors affect the cost of Descovy?

Without insurance, what you pay for Descovy depends on several factors, including your:

• Pharmacy: Pharmacies set their own prices, so where you fill your prescription is important. You can compare prices at pharmacies near you by using GoodRx.

• Location: Prescription medication costs can vary by geographic location.

• Fill quantity: Medications can be more affordable over time when purchased beyond a monthly supply.

Disclosure

Descovy

Avg retail price

$2,570.35(Save 15.91%)

GoodRx discount

$2,161.35

See all discounts

How it works

Use GoodRx to find medications, pharmacies, and discounts.

GoodRx discounts can help you pay less for your prescription.

Bring your free coupon or savings card to the pharmacy.

Does insurance cover Descovy?

Most health insurance plans cover Descovy. If you have insurance, review your plan’s summary of benefits and coverage and formulary (list of covered medications) to determine whether Descovy is covered. If it isn’t, contact your plan and ask about your coverage options. You can also discuss alternatives to Descovy with your prescriber or a pharmacist.

To cover Descovy, some health insurance plans require prior authorization. This means your prescriber must provide documentation that Descovy is medically necessary for you. And you’re more likely to encounter step therapy (when you need to try other medications first) if you’re covered by an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan. You may also face prior authorization and step therapy if you’re covered by Medicaid or a commercial plan not purchased through an ACA marketplace. You shouldn’t face these limits if you have a Medicare pharmacy plan.

How different insurance plans cover Descovy

The following chart shows the likelihood of having coverage for Descovy with various types of insurance plans. You’ll also see the share of enrollees who need to obtain a prior authorization or complete step therapy.

Source: Managed Markets Insight & Technology, LLC™, as of September 11, 2025 (See methodology below.)

Tips if your medication isn’t covered by insurance

If your insurance plan doesn’t cover Descovy, you still have options:

• Use a GoodRx coupon to save on your prescription.

• Ask your prescriber about less costly options that meet your needs, such as switching to another medication that costs less or that has a generic option. There is no generic option for Descovy, but there is a generic option of Truvada — a similar PrEP medication.

• Request a formulary exception from your insurance company. If your request is denied, you have the right to file an appeal with your plan.

• When it’s time for open enrollment, compare health insurance plans to find one that provides coverage for this medication.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Using Descovy for HIV protection: Three people discuss their experiences using this prescription medication for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

• Undetectable equals untransmittable: How an undetectable viral load can keep you from passing HIV to someone else.

• Interactions to watch out for: Taking certain medications can make Descovy less effective.

Ways to save on Descovy

Whether or not you have insurance, there are ways to reduce the cost of Descovy. Here are five options.

1. Use a GoodRx coupon

You may be able to use a free GoodRx coupon to lower the price of your Descovy prescription. For example, without insurance, you may be able to pay a cash price as low as $2162.04 for 30 tablets of Descovy (200 mg / 25 mg) with a GoodRx coupon at certain pharmacies. Visit www.goodrx.com, or download the GoodRx app on your mobile device and use a coupon. Here’s how:

• On the app or website, type “Descovy” in the search field.

• Choose the desired quantity. Enter your ZIP code or address, or select “Use my current location,” so you see results for local pharmacies.

• Choose how to receive your coupon. You can have it emailed or texted to you, or you can print it out.

• Alert the pharmacy staff of your coupon early in the filling process to help avoid delays in receiving your medication.

It’s worth checking the GoodRx website or app to see if there are other available savings on Descovy at your pharmacy.

2. See if you qualify for a copay savings card

If you have commercial (private) insurance, you may be able to benefit from a manufacturer copay savings card. If you are eligible for the Gilead Advancing Access copay coupon, you may be able to get Descovy at no cost. Through the copay savings program, you can receive up to $7,200 in cost-sharing assistance in a calendar year, though there are no monthly limits on how much you can save.

People with Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and other government-sponsored insurance plans don’t qualify for this copay savings program.

3. Check if you’re eligible for a patient assistance program

Gilead Advancing Access also sponsors two assistance programs that provide free HIV medications to people who meet eligibility requirements: a patient assistance program (PAP) and a medication access program. To qualify, you must be a resident of a U.S. state or territory and demonstrate financial need. Enrollment in each program lasts for 12 months with an option to renew if you continue to qualify. Eligibility checks may be done during an enrollment term. New enrollees may pick up their first 30-day prescription at a retail pharmacy, but after that the free medications will be sent by mail to participants.

You may also be able to get help through an independent PAP. Here are some options:

• The Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation offers grants to pay treatment costs for people who have a demonstrated need for financial support. The PAN Foundation has an HIV treatment and prevention fund, which can help with Descovy costs. Once approved, you may also qualify for a transportation grant. As of publication time, the fund is closed, but you can join the waiting list.

• The Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief program has an HIV, AIDS, and Prevention fund that can assist with insurance premiums as well as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance for people who qualify by income and meet other requirements. The maximum award is $5,000 a year. At publication time, the fund was open for applications.

• Good Days has an HIV, AIDS Treatment & Prevention program that includes assistance for people taking Descovy. You must meet income requirements, and your insurance must cover at least half of your medication’s cost. Up to $2,000 per year is available, and the fund was open at the time of publication. You can reenroll for potential help next year.

4. Ask about 90-day supplies

You may be able to save money over time by filling larger quantities, such as a 12-week supply (90 days) of Descovy rather than a 4-week supply (30 days).

5. Tap into your HSA, FSA, or HRA

Consider using a flexible spending account (FSA), a health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to pay for your medication. You can enjoy multiple tax benefits when funds from an FSA, an HSA, or an HRA are used to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. This can reduce your out-of-pocket costs through tax savings. But be sure to review your account’s contribution limits, rollover limits, and eligible expenses.

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Written by:

Tamara E. Holmes

Tamara E. Holmes is a Washington, DC-based freelance journalist and content strategist who has been writing about personal finance, health, and health insurance for more than a decade. Her work has appeared in various print and online publications, such as USA Today, AARP, Working Mother, and Diversity Woman.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George, MPH, is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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Methodology

We obtained national prescription coverage data for each medication from Managed Markets Insight & Technology (MMIT). The data reflects health insurance coverage as of September 11, 2025. 

We calculated the percentage of enrollees in plans that cover each medication by dividing the number of enrollees covered for the medication within a specific insurance channel (e.g., ACA, Medicare, Medicaid) by the total number of enrollees in all plans within that channel. 

We determined the percentage of enrollees in plans with a prior authorization requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that required prior authorization for the medication within each channel.

Finally, we measured the percentage of enrollees in plans with a step therapy requirement by calculating the proportion of enrollees in plans that imposed step therapy requirements for the medication in each channel. 

These estimates, derived from national MMIT coverage data, provide insight into health insurance coverage for each medication. They take into account restrictions such as prior authorization, step therapy, and quantity limits. The percentages are expressed relative to the total number of enrollees covered by various insurance channels, including ACA plans, commercial (excluding ACA) plans, Medicare, and Medicaid (both state-run and managed care plans).