can we get a HELOC if we are in forbearance? We want to drop our PMI since we have good equity.

You will need to come out of forbearance and make three consecutive payments before applying for a refinace and wouldn't recommend adding a HELOC to take PMI (just replacing one payment for another). Look at doing a single payment of MI vs monthly and wrap it into your loan with closing costs.Good Luck

You are in forbearance. This means you are saying you can't make your payment. If you can't make your payment, why would someone give you a new loan? You will need to get out of forbearance, and make at least on time and consecutive payments to be considered in most cases.