COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? after 7 years as a hotel front-desk agent

I just got my COBRA paperwork and the deadline to decide is close. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. My old employer will not help with the premium. Did anyone switch mid-year?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.