Key points
There are many medical and support services available for Iowans living with HIV. They include case management, financial assistance, health insurance support and more.
These services exist to help people living with HIV achieve their health and life goals. They are there to make the HIV-related part of your life easier, so you can focus on the other things that are important to you.
Supportive services can help people living with HIV:
- Become and stay virally suppressed
- Access and pay for health care and medications
- Build a strong network of support
Medical and other support services for people living with HIV are funded by federal grants from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
Back to topHIV case management
When you’re living with HIV, you have to take care of many things. It’s like putting together a big puzzle—and the pieces of the puzzle are things like getting health insurance, keeping doctors’ appointments and taking HIV medicines.
An HIV case manager can help you put all the pieces of the puzzle together. They know about all the services and programs that are available, and they can help you get those services. All people living with HIV in Iowa can access free HIV case management.
What is HIV case management?
An HIV case manager can help you get the care and services you need to stay healthy and live well. Working with multiple service providers can be complicated and confusing. An HIV case manager works with programs and agencies to help keep track of the different services you need. They can help you fill out forms and apply for program or benefits.
Even if you are doing well taking care of your needs, case management can make the process easier. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just been diagnosed with HIV or if you’ve been living with HIV for a long time—services are still available to you.
In Iowa, you must be signed up for case management to receive most of the assistance programs for people living with HIV. This is because HIV case managers are trained on how to work with these different programs. They are also knowledgeable about the resources that are available, so you won't miss out on assistance options that might help you!
An HIV case manager can help you:
- Find medical care, set up medical tests and appointments and keep those appointments.
- Get health insurance or Medicaid to pay for your health care and other needs.
- Connect to service providers in an emergency.
- Apply for other programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) to give you money for living expenses (income).
- Figure out the paperwork you need to fill out to get different services.
- Find housing and services you need to live comfortably at home.
- Find help for you to stop using drugs or alcohol, if you want help, or explore other ways to protect your health if you are not ready to stop using.
- Teach you how to avoid passing HIV to other people.
- Find a counselor to support your mental health.
- Access interpreters in many languages.
How to Find a Case Manager
Case management is your connection to the many services available to people living with HIV in Iowa! No matter what level of support you need, they can help. Use our service locator to find an organization offering HIV support services near you.
Help with medication and medical bills
Iowa has a program to help you pay for HIV medications, health insurance and other medical expenses. This program is called the Iowa Benefits and Drug Assistance Program (BDAP).
Eligibility
Being “eligible” means how you qualify for a service or a program. You are eligible for help with insurance and medical expenses through BDAP if you are:
- Living with HIV
- A resident of Iowa
- At or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The Federal Poverty Level varies based on household size and changes every year. Financial eligibility is calculated on the gross income available to the household.
- Have a prescription on the list of medications covered by BDAP
If you need help answering these questions, you can ask your case manager or contact us!
How to sign up
In Iowa, you must be enrolled in HIV case management to sign up for the Iowa Benefits and Drug Assistance Program. Your case manager will help you choose the best program option for your needs and help you fill out the forms.
If you are not enrolled in HIV case management, it’s very easy to find a location offering this service near you.
Back to topOther services
In Iowa, you must be enrolled in HIV case management to sign up for assistance programs for people living with HIV. See the list below for some examples of the most-used assistance options open to people living with HIV in Iowa.
Important: This list does not include all services! Please talk to your HIV case manager about your needs. They will know about the services and assistance programs available to you, and they can help you sign up.
Eligibility
You may be eligible for financial assistance if you meet the following:
- Living with HIV
- A resident of Iowa
- At or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The Federal Poverty Level varies based on household size and changes every year. Financial eligibility is calculated on the gross income available to the household.
- Enrolled in case management services.
Examples of services
- Food assistance
- Short-term rent and utility assistance
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Childcare for medical appointments
- Mental health services
- Home health services
- Substance abuse services—for you to attend residential or outpatient treatment.
- Health insurance premium and copay assistance—this is in addition to the Benefits and Drug Assistance Program, described earlier on this page.
Connect to services
Find a location offering support services for people living with HIV! If this is new for you, call any of the agencies on our list and ask for "case management" or the "Ryan White program."