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How do I get a Descovy copay card and save on costs?

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Oct 14, 2024.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

You can get a Descovy copay card by signing up for the Gilead Advancing Access Program online or by calling 1-800-226-2056. If you have commercial insurance you may be eligible to save up to $7,200 per calendar year on your prescription copay with no monthly limit.

The Descovy copay card can be used to help with costs whether you are filling a prescription for HIV treatment or HIV prevention (PrEP). The card will not expire and will renew automatically on January 1st of each year, as long as you are eligible.

Learn more: Descovy Price Guide, Copay Cards and Patient Assistance

To access the card, you will need to:

  • fill out a form found on Gilead Advancing Access website
  • have your doctor sign it
  • fax it back to the number on the form. It normally takes about 2 business days for the information to be reviewed.

Once you have submitted the form and are enrolled in the Gilead Advancing Access program, you will need to activate your copay card by entering your 11-digit card ID number found on the front of the card you receive. You can do this online or call 1-800-226-2056.

When you fill your Descovy prescription, give the card information to your pharmacist who can apply the savings to lower your copay.

If you are enrolled in the Advancing Access Program but have already paid a copay for your medicine, call the program specialist at 1-800-226-2056 to learn more about reimbursement for your out-of-pocket costs for Descovy.

If you need more information, you can call 1-800-226-2056 to speak with a Gilead Advancing Access program specialist, M-F, (9 AM to 8 PM ET).

Who is eligible for the Descovy copay card?

People with commercial insurance are eligible for this program. Commercial or private insurance is typically the kind provided by your employer or that you have purchased from the US Healthcare Marketplace. Coupons benefits may vary and are subject to change.

If you have state or federally funded prescription drug insurance, such as Medicare Part D, Medicaid, Medigap, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, or Veterans Administration (VA) /Tricare, you are not eligible to use the copay card. In addition, uninsured and cash-paying patients are not eligible.

To use this coupon you must be a resident of the US, Puerto Rico, or US territories and at least 18 years old, or enrolling on the behalf of a minor. In addition, your pharmacy must be in the US, Puerto Rico, or US territories and participating in this program.

Can I get help with Descovy costs if I have Medicare?

People with government-sponsored insurance like Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medigap, Medicaid, VA/Tricare or other state- or federally-funded insurance may be able to receive help through independent or nonprofit foundations.

These foundations will have their own application process and eligibility criteria. To learn more, call 1-800-226-2056 to speak with an Advancing Access program specialist from Gilead.

Related questions

Can I get Descovy for free if I do not have insurance?

Gilead may be able to help you get your Descovy with no payment for up to a 12 month period, as long as you are eligible throughout this time frame. Contact the Patient Assistance Program/Medication Assistance Program (PAP / MAP) at 1-800-226-2056 for more information.

After one year, you may be able to re-enroll. However, if you are eligible for Medicaid or the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, you may not be eligible to re-enroll.

You must be a resident of the US, Puerto Rico, or US Territories to be eligible.

What do I do if my Descovy prescription is denied by my insurance?

The Gilead Advancing Access Program specialist at 1-800-226-2056 can help you find out why you were denied insurance coverage. They can help guide you to your next steps and identify ways you can access your medicine affordably.

In addition, if required, they may be able to help you learn about an appeals process with your insurance company for any denied claims.

You can call your prescription benefit provider to determine why your coverage was denied. They may have other drug options they can recommend for treatment that are covered under your plan.

Why is Descovy prescribed?

Descovy is an oral once-daily pill used to treat or prevent HIV infection (PrEP). Descovy is a combination of 2 drugs: emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), both in a group of drugs known as HIV nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).

For HIV treatment, it is used:

  • in combination with other antiretroviral HIV medicines in adults and children weighing at least 35 kg (77 lbs)
  • in combination with other antiretroviral agents other than protease inhibitors that require a CYP3A inhibitor for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in children weighing at least 14 kg (30.8 lbs) and less than 35 kg (77 lbs).

For HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Descovy is used:

  • alone (as a single treatment) in at-risk patients weighing at least 35 kg (77 lbs) to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection from sexual acquisition, excluding individuals at risk from receptive vaginal sex. Individuals must have a negative HIV-1 test immediately before starting Descovy for HIV PrEP.
  • You must remain HIV-negative while using Descovy for PrEP. Your doctor will test you for HIV infection at least every 3 months while on treatment.

This is not all the information you need to know about Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions. Review the full product information and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

References

Read next

Apretude vs Descovy: How do they compare?

Apretude (cabotegravir) and Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) are both effective options for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), but they differ in how they are taken, dosing frequency, and side effects. In addition to PrEP, Descovy may also be taken to treat HIV-1 infection. Continue reading

Can Descovy be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV?

Yes. The FDA approved Descovy (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in October 2019 to help reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection. Continue reading

Does Descovy cause weight gain?

Yes, Descovy can lead to modest weight gain with studies showing an increase of 1.7 kg to 2.43 kg (3.7 to 5.4 lbs) in the initial 9 to 18 months in people living with HIV, and 0.83 kg to 1.1 kg (1.8 to 2.4 lbs) per year when used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), including people who switched from Truvada to Descovy.

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