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Should you keep COBRA or switch to a Marketplace plan?

You have 60 days from your job separation to decide. Enter your details below and instantly see which option costs less after government subsidies.

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Affects Medicaid eligibility and benchmark plan costs. Please select your state.
Include everyone on your current health plan. Enter a number of 1 or more.
Use your last annual salary if recently laid off. Enter 0 if not currently working. Enter a valid dollar amount.
Find this on your COBRA election notice, mailed within 14 days of job separation. Enter a valid dollar amount.

Option Monthly cost
COBRA continuation
Marketplace plan (after subsidy)

Estimates only. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines. Actual costs depend on the specific plan you select. Marketplace cost based on the benchmark silver plan for your state. Always verify at HealthCare.gov.

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Common questions

COBRA vs. Marketplace: Quick answers

It depends on your income and household size. COBRA continues your employer plan at full cost plus a 2% admin fee. A Marketplace plan may cost much less after government subsidies. For a family of four earning $60,000, the Marketplace plan is almost always cheaper. Use the calculator above to compare with your actual numbers.
COBRA costs the full premium your employer was paying on your behalf, plus a 2% administrative fee. For individuals, this is typically $400 to $800 per month. For families, it ranges from $1,200 to $2,000 or more. The exact amount is on your COBRA election notice, which your employer must mail within 14 days of your job separation.
The Marketplace subsidy (also called the premium tax credit) lowers the monthly cost of a health insurance plan bought through HealthCare.gov. You qualify if your household income is above the federal poverty level. The subsidy amount depends on your income, household size, and state. Under current rules, there is no hard income cap and the subsidy phases out gradually.
COBRA lasts up to 18 months for most qualifying events, including job loss or reduction in hours. Dependents may receive up to 36 months in some cases. You must elect COBRA within 60 days of your qualifying event.
Yes. Losing job-based coverage gives you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period on the Marketplace. You can also switch during the annual Open Enrollment (November 1 through January 15). If you already elected COBRA, you can drop it and enroll in a Marketplace plan during Open Enrollment.
If your income drops below 138% of the federal poverty level and you live in a state that has expanded Medicaid, you likely qualify for free or very low-cost coverage. As of 2026, 40 states plus DC have expanded Medicaid. You can apply any time because there is no enrollment window. Our calculator checks this automatically.