seems like the only way I could get continuous coverage would be to pay the $1700

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Early July when I knew I was changing jobs, I immediately asked the ex to put the kids on his insurance, and I applied for Blue Shield through a local agent. The ex putting the kids on was no problem other than me providing proof as soon as I had it, but Blue Shield wouldn't do anything before I got them the proof. Well, Health Net, my most recent employer, refused to send the proof until after 7/31 when my insurance expired. But Blue Shield didn't have to make my new coverage effective until 9/1 because they didn't get the proof until August. So in other words, there was no way to avoid having a gap in coverage unless I paid Health Net $1700 for Cobra coverage, which would be for me AND the kids, which I didn't need, because the kids were on their dad's insurance. This insurance thing, HIPAA and the ACA, still need some ironing out, imho PS to add insult to injury, and contrary to instructions, Blue Shield took the premium out of my checking instead of my savings. Fortunately, I had funds to cover it.