COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? - what worked for you?

The COBRA quote for my family is $450 a month and I do not know how to afford it. There are 10 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. How did you decide?

A quick call to the plan's member line cleared up two things for us that the letter did not.