About Ryan White Care

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program helps people with HIV/AIDS who have nowhere else to turn for the care they need. If you are HIV-positive, you can get medical care and some other services — even if you do not have health insurance or money to pay for health and dental services and medications.

To be eligible to receive health and dental care, medications, and other health-related services through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, you must

• Be diagnosed with HIV or AIDS
• Have an income too low to pay for care
• Have no health insurance or not enough insurance to pay for the care you need

In some cases, your family members can receive services through a Ryan White program focused on women, infants, children, and youth, even though they are not diagnosed with HIV.

If you think you or your family members may be eligible, see the Ryan White Community map to contact a Ryan White agency in your area. (The best place to start might be your State Ryan White Part B program’s Web site but also contact other Ryan White agencies listed on this map). You can also call your State HIV/AIDS Hotline and ask them to refer you to the nearest Ryan White provider.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a U.S. Government program that provides funds to State and local governments and agencies that in turn provide doctor's care, HIV/AIDS medications and many other services to people who do not have health insurance or funds to pay for the HIV care they need. Ryan White funds cannot be provided directly to individuals.

When you are put in contact with the nearest Ryan White provider, they will determine if you are eligible for Ryan White care. Usually, a case manager or benefits counselor in the agency will sit down with you and ask about your medical and other needs and will help determine what you are eligible for, based upon your health condition, income and resources.

Case managers and benefits counselors know what services are available and can help you get care.  Their services are free.

What you pay for your health care mostly depends on whether you have your own health insurance and how much income and resources you have. If you do not have health insurance and have a very low income, you may not have to pay very much for the care you need.

In some cases, however, you may have to pay for some of the costs. For example, you may have to pay a certain amount for each prescription drug or for each doctor's visit. Your case manager can help you

• learn what services you are eligible to receive,
• apply for health care assistance, and
• find out whether you have to cover any of the costs.