Finding Care

Information and resources to help you

Key Points

• If you are living with HIV, there are resources that can help you find a health care provider, pay for your medicines, locate affordable housing, and get help with mental health issues.
• The Ryan White HIV/AIDS program is a federal program designed to help people with HIV get the medical care and other support services they need. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) explains who is eligible for Ryan White Program services and where to find help on their website: Get HIV Care and Treatment.
• The Service Locator from AIDS.gov can help you locate HIV testing centers, mental health and family planning services, medical centers participating in the Ryan White Program, housing assistance, and substance abuse treatment resources in your area.

 

How do I find a health care provider?

Health care providers are an essential part of successful HIV treatment. They prescribe medicines to treat HIV and other conditions, order tests to monitor their patients’ health, and answer any health-related questions you may have.

Explore the resources below to get help finding a health care provider:

• State HIV/AIDS Hotlines, from HRSA
  If you need help finding a health care provider or referrals for treatment services in your area, call your state’s HIV/AIDS hotline. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) maintains a list of HIV/AIDS hotlines for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
• Find Ryan White HIV/AIDS Medical Care Providers, from HRSA
  The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program can give people living with HIV access to the care they need when they do not have sufficient health insurance or are in need of financial assistance. This searchable database from HRSA locates health care services that participate in the Ryan White Program. You can also find federally funded health centers through HRSA’s mobile apps.
• AIDS.gov Service Locator
  This database from AIDS.gov can help you locate HIV testing centers, mental health and family planning services, medical centers participating in the Ryan White Program, housing assistance, and substance abuse treatment facilities in your area.

 

Where can I get help paying for my HIV medicines?

HIV is treated with a daily combination of HIV medicines (called an HIV regimen) that keeps the virus from multiplying in the body. These medicines can’t cure HIV, so people living with HIV must continue taking HIV medicines throughout their lives.

There are several resources that can help people with HIV get the medicines they need:

• ADAP Directory, from the ADAP Advocacy Association
  AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) make HIV medicines and other services available to people who are living with HIV and do not have sufficient health insurance or are in need of financial assistance. The ADAP Directory collects current ADAP-related information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories in a searchable database.
• NASTAD Member Database
  Use the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors’ (NASTAD) directory to find health care specialists involved with ADAPs in your state.
• Social Security for People Living with HIV/AIDS, from the Social Security Administration
  People with HIV who can’t work may qualify for disability benefits. This fact sheet explains who qualifies for those benefits and how to file for them.
• Drug Companies
  Some companies that make HIV medicines also provide support programs for people who need those medicines. Find the contact information for drug companies by searching the drug’s name in the AIDSinfo Drug Database and then scrolling to the section in the patient version of the record titled "Manufacturer Information."

 

Where can I find housing assistance?

A stable living situation makes it easier for people with HIV to keep appointments with their health care provider and stick to an HIV regimen.

HIV/AIDS Housing, from HUD
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) manages the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, which is designed to provide housing assistance to people living with HIV. On HUD’s website, you can find housing resources for renters and homeowners, as well as for those without homes. You can also use the HUD Resource Locator to search for affordable and special needs housing near you.

 

How do I get help with mental health issues?

Anyone can have problems with mental health, but people with HIV are more likely to experience conditions like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia than people without HIV. Read the AIDSinfo HIV and Mental Health fact sheet for more information.

Below are some places to find mental health treatment services:

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  SAMSHA is a U.S. government agency that offers resources for those looking for help with mental health or substance abuse and addiction. SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator allows visitors to confidentially search for mental health and substance addiction treatment facilities anywhere in the United States. SAMHSA also operates a 24-hour National Helpline for people looking for information and treatment referrals related to mental health and substance abuse disorders, and a 24-hour Suicide Prevention Lifeline for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts.
• Help for Mental Illness, from NIMH
  As part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funds research on ways to prevent and treat mental disorders. Their website includes a resources page to find health care providers and treatment, locate clinical trials, and learn more about mental health.