Mickey--if you live in California there is a fast-track to Medicaid (if you still have insurance and meet their requirements they will even pay your premiums for you!)
The following is from a site which summarizes health care law in different states with an email address you could write to find out more about breast cancer specific laws:
The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute has written A CONSUMER GUIDE FOR GETTING AND KEEPING HEALTH INSURANCE for each state and the District of Columbia — fifty-one in all. These Consumer Guides are available at this web site and will be updated periodically as changes in federal and state policy warrant.
The Guides summarize your protections, and so may not answer all of your questions. They are not a substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert before making any decisions about your own health insurance. The authors, the Health Policy Institute, and Georgetown University specifically disclaim any personal liability, loss or risk incurred as a consequence of the use and application, either directly or indirectly, of any information presented herein.
NEW!*We've recently updated the Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland and Oklahoma guides.
Read our periodic newsletter, about protections consumers have – and lack – as they seek to buy and keep private health insurance.
other helpful links
the link is:
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/
has a link to a Kaiser Foundation service to help appeal health insurance refusals
Hope this helps!
Lani