Individual health coverage can be easily denied for little things (my teenage daughter was denied for having visited a doctor about acne). Then when you try with other companies, you have to check the "I have been turned down before" box, which means most companies will look no further and deny you also. A little known provision of HIPAA is that coverage MUST be provided (although of course it's expensive). But to qualify you HAVE TO EXHAUST YOUR COBRA BENEFITS. So if you turn down COBRA, you may find yourself uninsurable. Something to keep in mind.