Hmm, typed in a long post and e-r.org fell off the internet for a minute! Weird.
Short version: Since I got divorced, I need my own h/c. Got declined from my current provider (kaiser) because a few years ago I was prediabetic and prehypertensive. As any kaiser patient knows, they love giving you lots and lots of pills and you may never get well from any condition. I checked with some other providers, and they doubled their teaser rates on me, and when they pull the full medical history from kaiser they'll probably retroactively decline me as well. Stooopid since they HAVE to take me after 1/1. Considering I'm 169lbs, my bp is 120/72 and my recent a1c test was 5.5, I'm pretty amused that kaiser declined me. I'd actually been considering a slightly lower cost option, but I think I'll stick with them and stick it to them. I'd like ALL kinds of tests run...
So I'll be stuck with kaiser on cobra at around 800-900 a month until 1/1, when I'll get on an individual plan with them. Since I paid off my mortgage, cars and other debt and my 1040 reported income is under the 400% limit, I'll get subsidized care at under $200 a month.
So somebody has to go revise the 'should I pay off the mortgage' threads with a 5-10k reduction in health care costs...