Health: testing, prevention and doctors who will see you
What to do after a possible HIV exposure, where to get checked for free or at low cost, and how to get hormone therapy and a regular doctor in New York.
What to take and at what dose is for a doctor to decide.
QARAVAN does not give medical advice: we tell you where to go.
Start here
- If you may have been exposed to HIV, start PEP within 72 hours: at a City sexual health clinic, a hospital emergency room, or through the 24/7 line 844-373-7692 (in English).
- City sexual health clinics see anyone 12 and older, whatever their status, and won't turn you away for lack of insurance or money.
- For a regular doctor and hormone therapy: Callen-Lorde (an LGBTQ+ health center) and Pride Health Services at City hospitals.
Do not wait, count the hours
HIV can pass through anal or vaginal sex and shared injection equipment. PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine that can prevent infection if started within 72 hours of a possible exposure. Note the time of the exposure. If in doubt, come in and ask: a doctor will decide whether you need it.
On weekdays, go to a City sexual health clinic
City Health Department clinics (NYC Sexual Health Clinics) are open Mon–Fri, usually 8:30 am–3:30 pm, without appointments, and give PEP; when busy, PEP patients go first. In November they are closed on the 3rd, 11th, 19th and 26th; Crown Heights and Riverside are closed until further notice.
Clinics closed or you're on Staten Island: an ER or the PEP hotline
Go to a hospital emergency room (ER): the hospital must give you an interpreter for free, so say "Russian". You can also find a doctor who prescribes PEP on the NYC Health Map. There is also a 24/7 line, 844-373-7692; it is in English. There is no City sexual health clinic on Staten Island.
Take the pills every day for 28 days
PEP is a course of pills: every day for 28 days, as the doctor prescribes.
Ask what it costs
Many insurance plans cover PEP, including Medicaid, and financial help exists. Without insurance, find clinics on the NYC Health Map that give PEP to uninsured people.
Ask about the next step
Ask the doctor about HIV testing and future protection, such as PrEP (medicine taken ahead of time).
Where to get checked and get care
| Who is seen and what it costs | What is offered | |
|---|---|---|
| NYC Sexual Health Clinics | From age 12, whatever your status; adults 19 and older are asked to pay on an income scale, but you'll be seen without insurance or money | STI and HIV tests, PEP, PrEP, STI treatment, the mpox vaccine |
| Callen-Lorde | A health center for LGBTQ+ people; sees everyone, fees on an income scale | A regular doctor (primary care), hormone therapy, HIV care, PrEP, PEP, mental health care for its patients, a Russian interpreter |
| Pride Health Services at NYC Health + Hospitals | The City hospital system; whatever your language or status | A regular doctor, hormone therapy, HIV and STI care, PrEP, PEP, help with insurance; eight hospitals and centers |
| The HOTT program (Health Outreach to Teens) at Callen-Lorde | Ages 13–24; free or low-cost | Medical and mental health care; a mobile clinic too |
| The LGBTQ+ Center and Destination Tomorrow | The Center (Manhattan): anonymous tests; Destination Tomorrow (Bronx): walk-in | HIV tests; hours on their websites |
Choose a clinic and a time
Free or low-cost, from age 12, whatever your status, no parental consent. Most services are walk-in; tests without an exam are walk-in only. On the third Tuesday of the month clinics open at 10 am, and they close on holidays and some other days (in November: the 3rd, 11th, 19th and 26th). A clinic may close early if it gets busy, so come early.
If you need an appointment
For services that need an appointment (such as an IUD or implant), book through the clinics' hotline: 347-396-7959, Mon–Fri 9 am–3:30 pm; say "Russian" and an interpreter joins.
Answer the questions about payment
Adults 19 and older are asked to pay: with insurance, the plan is billed; without it, the price follows a family size and income scale. No proof of income, no payment at the clinic. You'll be seen without insurance or money.
Have the exam and take the tests
They test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, mpox and HIV and treat infections. The City website has leaflets in Russian, for example on payment and on doxy PEP.
Get your results
Results come in seven to ten days in the Patient Portal. If you didn't sign up for it at your visit, call 347-396-7959 and say "Russian": an interpreter joins.
Rules in the clinic
Masks are required and provided. Don't come with COVID-19 symptoms; call the hotline first. People who came along just for company are asked to wait outside.
Closed until further notice: Crown Heights and Riverside
Crown Heights Sexual Health Clinic (1218 Prospect Place, Brooklyn) and Riverside Sexual Health Clinic (160 West 100th Street, Manhattan) are closed until further notice; choose another. The other clinics are open Mon–Fri unless noted.
Staten Island
There is no City sexual health clinic on Staten Island. For PEP, go to a hospital ER; there is also the 24/7 line 844-373-7692, in English.
Morrisania Sexual Health Clinic (Bronx)
A City clinic; medication abortion (pills) by appointment through the hotline. It may close early when busy.
Jamaica Sexual Health Clinic (Queens)
A City clinic; medication abortion by appointment through the hotline; walk-ins until 2 pm.
Corona Sexual Health Clinic (Queens)
A City clinic; open until 7:15 pm on Thursdays.
Fort Greene Sexual Health Clinic and Express Clinic (Brooklyn)
The City clinic on the second floor and the Express Clinic on the first, for quick routine STI and HIV tests; the Express Clinic has the Quickie Lab, a rapid chlamydia and gonorrhea test. Medication abortion by appointment through the hotline; walk-ins until 2 pm.
Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic and Express Clinic (Manhattan)
The City clinic and an Express Clinic for quick routine tests, with the Quickie Lab. Results from the regular clinic take about seven days.
Central Harlem Sexual Health Clinic (Manhattan)
A City clinic with the full range of services. Medication abortion by appointment through the hotline; walk-ins until 2 pm.
PrEP, a medicine that protects against HIV
PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is taken ahead of time so the virus can't take hold if you are exposed. At City clinics you can start PrEP without an appointment, but booking is better: you can request a consultation on the City website, including by video or phone (telemedicine). Callen-Lorde also helps you choose a PrEP option. Talk with a doctor about what suits you.
Doxy PEP, a medicine after sex against STIs
Doxy PEP is the antibiotic doxycycline taken after sex to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. All City sexual health clinics give it without an appointment. There is a leaflet in Russian.
The mpox vaccine
There is a vaccine for mpox (formerly monkeypox). The City advises people at risk to get it. All City sexual health clinics vaccinate without an appointment, whatever your insurance or status. You need two doses; a third is not recommended now.
A free HIV self-test kit
The NYC Health Map's "Sexual Health Services" section lists free home HIV tests, plus testing sites, PEP and PrEP.
Birth control and abortion
City clinics give emergency contraception, the pill, patch, ring and shot; pregnancy tests are only at the Central Harlem clinic, walk-in. Fort Greene, Jamaica, Morrisania and Central Harlem give abortion pills in early pregnancy: book at 347-396-7959 and say "Russian". For other abortion care, including procedural abortion, call the Abortion Access Hub at 877-692-2482, Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm: say "Russian" and an interpreter joins. The chat on nyc.gov/abortion is in English and Spanish only.
Book your first appointment
At Callen-Lorde you can get a regular doctor, hormone therapy and HIV care. Book your first appointment online at callen-lorde.org/register (sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx). If you have insurance, the center checks whether the doctor is in your network.
Complete the registration
48 hours before the visit, MyChart (the patient portal) asks you to fill in your details. If that doesn't work, you'll get forms at the desk.
Arrive early and bring documents
Arrive at least 30 minutes early. Bring government photo ID (a driver's license, IDNYC or a passport) and your insurance card if you have one. If you have no ID, ask the center what to do.
Ask about cost
The center serves everyone whether or not they can pay. It must post its prices, but you don't pay before the visit and can't be refused for money. There is a sliding fee scale: bring proof of income or fill in a form stating your income yourself.
Ask for an interpreter
Every site has interpreters, including Russian and American Sign Language.
Callen-Lorde, Chelsea
Price depends on income
The Manhattan site, in Chelsea; dental care is only here. New patients book online; the first visit is in person.
Callen-Lorde, Brooklyn
Price depends on income
The Brooklyn site: book online; same documents.
Callen-Lorde, Bronx
Price depends on income
The Bronx site. Mental health care is only for the center's patients with no insurance or with Medicaid, Medicare or ADAP (the state program for people with HIV). Private insurance isn't accepted for mental health care.
Callen-Lorde, HOTT (Health Outreach to Teens) program
Low cost
For LGBTQ+ teens and young people aged 13–24 and other young people who need care: free or low-cost medical and mental health care, insurance accepted. New patients up to age 21, seen until their 24th birthday. Walk in at Chelsea, Mon–Thu 10 am–5 pm, Fri 10 am–3 pm. There is also a mobile clinic.
NYC Health + Hospitals, Pride Health Services
Price depends on income
Pride Health Services is at eight City system hospitals and centers: Bellevue, Elmhurst, Gotham Health Gouverneur, Gotham Health Judson, Jacobi, Lincoln, Metropolitan and Woodhull. Whatever your language or status, with help getting insurance. Primary care, hormone therapy, HIV and STI testing, PrEP and PEP. There is a brochure in Russian. Addresses are listed at nychealthandhospitals.org; questions about the program: lgbtq@nychhc.org.
New York State Department of Health, Uninsured Care Programs (ADAP)
State programs for state residents with HIV or at risk. ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) gives HIV medicines for free (it isn't all medical care); PrEP-AP covers PrEP. Citizenship is not required. The income guide is 500% of the federal poverty level (FPL; it depends on family size and changes yearly). You need a medical form signed by a doctor, plus proof of income and state residence; one application covers ADAP, ADAP Plus, the HIV Home Care Program and PrEP-AP. You can apply online.
NYC Health Map
The City's directory of doctors and clinics, including those experienced in LGBTQ+ health.
The LGBTQ+ Center, Thriving Together group
A peer support group for LGBTQ+ people living with HIV, with trained facilitators; it is not treatment. No insurance needed; a short registration is required.
- HIV
- Human immunodeficiency virus. It spreads mostly through sex and shared needles. Clinics test for it and treat it.
- STI
- Sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Many of them can be treated.
- PEP
- Post-exposure prophylaxis: medicine after a possible HIV exposure. Start within 72 hours and take it daily for 28 days.
- PrEP
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis: medicine taken ahead of time to protect against HIV.
- Doxy PEP
- The antibiotic doxycycline, taken after sex to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis.
- Mpox
- An infection with a two-dose vaccine. It used to be called monkeypox.
- Walk-in
- You can come without an appointment.
- Sliding scale
- The price depends on income and family size: the lower your income, the less you pay.
- Telemedicine
- A visit with a clinician by video or phone.
- Primary care
- A regular doctor for everyday concerns, vaccines and checkups.
- Emergency room (ER)
- The hospital department for urgent cases.
This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sources, checked November 2026
- gaycenter.org
- gaycenter.org/support/social-groups
- callen-lorde.org
- callen-lorde.org/register
- nyc.gov/site/doh/services/sexual-health-clinics.page
- nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/lgbtq.page
- callen-lorde.org/hott
- nychealthandhospitals.org/services/lgbtq-health-care-services
- health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/resources/adap
- health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/general/resources/adap/eligibility…