San Francisco, California
Compare free STD and STI clinics, sliding-scale care, cash-pay labs, and privacy routes. San Francisco has some of the best sexual health infrastructure in the country — here’s how to use it.
Hours, services, and pricing change. Always verify availability with the clinic before going.
356 7th Street, SF 94102
Ages 12+. No insurance or ID required. Closed weekends.
470 Castro Street, SF
No fee, no insurance, no ID required. Free PrEP navigation.
1930 Market Street, SF 94102
STI testing limited to clients who have sex with men. HIV testing for all.
1522 Bush Street, SF 94109
Sliding scale. Free or low-cost for qualifying patients.
Ellis Street (Tenderloin), SF
Free. Walk-in. Serves Tenderloin community.
4+ SF locations
6+ SF locations
Uses Quest/Labcorp labs
1900 19th Ave + others
Multiple SF locations
Multiple SF locations
Statutes and programs that commonly apply to STI testing in San Francisco
California's Confidential Health Information Act (effective July 2022) lets a 'protected individual' direct that EOBs and other communications about sensitive services — including STI testing — be sent only to the patient, not the policyholder. In practice this typically means submitting a confidential communications request to your plan; details and timing vary, so confirm with your insurer.
California law allows minors aged 12 and over to consent to STI prevention and treatment services without parental consent. The clinician generally can't disclose the visit to a parent without the minor's written authorization. If billing goes through a parent's insurance, separate billing-confidentiality steps may also be needed.
California pharmacists at participating pharmacies can furnish PrEP and PEP without a separate doctor's visit, subject to the pharmacist's protocol. Pharmacy participation varies — call ahead to confirm.
California's PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP) helps eligible residents cover costs related to PrEP — medication, clinical visits, and labs — typically using income-based eligibility tiers. Coverage details, income limits, and immigration-status requirements vary; check the current program rules at cdph.ca.gov.
This is legal information citing specific California statutes, not legal advice. Laws may change. Verify current law through official state sources.
CDC screening recommendations by population
Source: CDC STD Screening Recommendations & USPSTF A/B-rated preventive services. This is not medical advice.
Start with SF City Clinic, SFAF Magnet, UCSF Alliance Health Project, GLIDE Health Services, or Planned Parenthood's sliding-scale option. Services, hours, eligibility, and appointment rules change, so confirm directly before going.
Yes. Public sexual health clinics and cash-pay lab orders can avoid billing insurance. A clinic or lab will still keep its own medical record, and cash-pay services can still create account, email, portal, and card records.
It can if you bill a parent's insurance before privacy settings are handled. California has strong sensitive-service confidentiality protections, but you should submit a confidential communications request and confirm your plan has your private contact route before a claim is created.
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