I can relate to your frustration. My husband pays, out of his salary, all the health insurance for his kids, which I understand (it's the right thing to do,) but to add me to his policy would put us in the hole every month. His ex-sea hag,
who has a degree in Finance (top of her class, I might add,) refuses to work, so she doesn't provide any insurance for her kids at all.
I'm 44, with no health issues of which I'm aware, but if I try to sign up for and pay for health insurance out of pocket, I won't be able to afford a stick of gum once a month!