I have no insurance and use the county health services too. Based on sliding scale, I'm supposed to be billed no more than $180 a month. But the billing dept. said as long as I pay even $5 a month consistently, that's fine. (For a point of reference for you, I brought in 34K in 2004 and have 2 kids. Sliding scale also is based on size of household, not just income).

I make too much to qualify for a grant for free meds, but, oh well. I figure that if the meds will help me be more productive and bring in more income, it's worth the added cost for the first out-of-pocket Rx fill. I've been getting freebies while we're in the "figuring out what meds I need" stage, but I've been told it won't last for long.

I'd definitely check into it if I were you. I've used the county system and the private sector and I can't even say there's a difference in the quality of care. (Except my case worker/T is really pushing me to break old, bad habits and it's ticking me off because it's hard. ) The psychiatrist I'm working with is also a psychopharmacologist, so he really knows his stuff.

Good luck.