COVID-19 Treatments

When started early, prescription COVID-19 medications treat COVID-19 to prevent serious illness. If you feel sick, act fast to test for COVID-19 and seek treatment options.

On this page:

About COVID-19 Medications
How to Find COVID-19 Medications

Telehealth Options

Picking Up Your Prescription
Educational Graphics
Frequently Asked Questions
California Department of Public Health Call Center

(Watch in Espanol)

Note: There is now a cost for the medications, but they should remain free or low-cost for most patients through insurance and/or patient assistance programs. YouCanBeatIt.org is now inactive and CDPH information on COVID-19 treatments can now be found on this webpage.

About COVID-19 Medications

COVID-19 medications can stop the virus from multiplying in your body. When started early after symptoms begin, COVID-19 medications can prevent serious illness. Early evidence suggests that they may lower the risk of developing long COVID symptoms.

Most medications are oral pills that can be taken at home.

When? Act quickly to start COVID-19 medications while your illness is still mild. Most COVID-19 medications must be started within the first 5 days of symptoms.

Who? The medications are recommended for people with factors that make them higher risk for serious COVID-19 illness, which includes most adults and some teens.

Cost? There may be a cost for the medications, but they should remain free or low-cost for most patients through insurance and/or patient assistance programs.

How? As soon as you feel sick, test for COVID-19. If you test positive, use the options below to ask for a prescription for COVID-19 medication.

Learn more at the Frequently Asked Questions section.

How to Find COVID-19 Medications

Options for getting a prescription include:

Contact your doctor, urgent care center, or insurance provider for an appointment. You can ask if video or phone appointments are possible.

Call the California Department of Public Health Call Center at 833-422-4255.

Find a Test to Treat site, where you can get tested, assessed by a healthcare provider, and receive treatment if eligible, all in one visit. Find test to treat locations.

If you don’t have insurance or have trouble reaching a health care provider quickly, these telehealth options are available to help you talk with a health care provider about a prescription right away.

National “Home Test to Treat” telehealth service

Visit testtotreat.org to make a free phone or video appointment with a health care provider. Free home delivery of medications and free at-home flu and COVID-19 tests are also available. There may still be a cost for the medications themselves. Ends April 16, 2024.

If your health care provider has questions on COVID-19 treatments, they can refer to CDPH’s recommendations on treatment or CDC’s Interim Clinical Considerations for COVID-19 Treatment in Outpatients.

Picking Up Your Prescription

Visit the Department of Health and Human Services Test to Treat Locator to find pharmacies, clinics, and other locations where you can pick-up your prescription. There may be a cost for the medications, but the medications should remain free or low-cost for most patients through insurance and/or patient assistance programs. Learn more about cost at the Frequently Asked Questions section.