Lemondrop

The crappy economy has many women going without health insurance. While we can't predict when you'll be able to afford it again, we can assure you that you don't have to skip getting checkups or buying meds. Lemondrop has some ideas for obtaining free or discounted medical care if you're one of the four-million people who have lost insurance in the recent downturn.

Call the Clinic
Health centers are federally-funded and will treat you even if you have no health insurance. They operate on a sliding scale, so you pay what you can afford, and you can get everything from immunizations to dental care. Hours might not be great and there may be a longer waiting time than in your doc's office, but it's better than nothing.

Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Web site to find a health center near you. For gynecological care, consider Planned Parenthood, which also runs on a sliding scale.

Go to the Fair
Colleges, wellness centers, hospitals and churches often hold free health screenings where you can get your blood pressure and cholesterol taken, eyesight checked and BMI assessed. Often there are events centered on specific health-awareness months, such as breast cancer screenings in October.

Recently, some pharmacy chains have also started offering free screenings. CVS, for instance, holds "To Your Health" events in several major cities.

Get a Deal on Drugs
If you need birth control or other meds, drug discount cards may be the way to go. Some cards are free while others require a small monthly fee. Some stores have discount pharmacy services, such as Kmart, which offers a 90-day generics program for $15.

Some drug companies also run discount programs. Pfizer's "Pfizer Pfriends" program, which is free to enroll in, helps those without prescription insurance save 15 to 50 percent on most of the company's medicines. Visit the homepage of the drug manufacturers who make your medicines to find out if they offer such programs.

Before choosing a discount drug program, you should compare and contrast to see which drugs are available, whether they are obtained though the mail or a walk-in pharmacy, and if you can get family members covered.

Stay Sane at School Screenings
A lot of people are pretty broken up over the economy, so some universities have begun supplying free counseling to non-students. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's Behavioral HealthCare, a statewide mental-health and addiction-services network, is holding free 90-minute support groups for people affected by the downturn. Call the colleges and counseling centers in your area to find out if they're offering similar programs.