HIV prevention is important: Medicare covers testing

Today is National HIV testing day. There are approximately 1.1 million people in the U.S. currently living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Getting medical care, support, and maintaining safe behaviors can help improve the health and lives of people living with HIV. Getting tested is also an important part of HIV prevention.

Medicare covers HIV screenings for people with Medicare, who ask to be tested, pregnant women, and people at an increased risk for infection (such as gay and bisexual men, injection drug users, or people with multiple sexual partners).

There have been many advances in treatment, but early testing and diagnosis play key roles in reducing the spread of the disease, extending life expectancy, enhancing HIV prevention, and cutting costs of care.

The time to get tested is now. Visit HIV.gov to get information and learn more about National HIV Testing Day.