There are a lot of people, who through no fault of their own, have lost jobs, lost their health insurance, and are unable to get insurance. Not only can't they afford it anyway, but insurance companies deny them any kind of coverage due to pre-existing conditions. For people with children, it's even more of a nightmare.

As long as you can show proof that you have had continuous health insurance covereage, the insurance companies can not deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions. Now that employers are required to pick up the tab for 60% of the COBRA costs, it is more affordable for the people who have lost jobs to keep continuous coverage.