Hey there! So sorry to hear you're sick without insurance. I know the feeling. I'm in the US and don't have health insurance either. Well, actually now that my husband has a job where we can get onto group insurance I will have coverage soon, except it won't cover "pre-existing" for a year so I might as well not have any.
I flared last summer and had to stop working. My husband was a student at that point, so our income was very low, but not low enough to qualify for medicade. I had to go back to a GI, and I found a clinic connected to a large hospital that offered financial aid - because of our low income I received very large discounts on office visits/my colonoscopy. I don't know what will happen now that my husband's employed full-time again, though, because they'll have to rework my amount of aid based on our income. So call around and ask about financial aid/charity aid.
Last Dec I was hospitalized out of state for blood clots. The hospital I ended up at was a Catholic hospital (I'm not Catholic, just for the record) and I was shocked at how much charity aid they gave me - totally saved me from a financial nightmare. They said it was their mission to help people. So if there is a Catholic hospital near you I think it would be worth calling and talking to someone in their financial aid office.
For prescriptions, I use Walgreen's. Their prescription savings card costs $20/year and saves me 50% on the meds I take. Costco.com pharmacy is also pretty cheap but I personally don't like to mail order my meds.
Pretty much what I've learned is that you have to ask everyone if there is any sort of aid/discount/help! for you because you don't have insurance. Nobody I've dealt with advertises that fact.
Other folks are dealing with this, too - I'm sure you'll get more advice. This is just what I've figured out. Hang in there - this is no picnic.
