COBRA Cost Calculator

COBRA premiums are typically 4-6x what you paid as an employee because they include both your share AND the employer's contribution, plus a 2% administrative fee. A family plan that cost you $400/month at work might cost $1,800-$2,500/month under COBRA. The full unsubsidized cost surprises most laid-off employees - it's on the W-2 in Box 12 code DD as your total annual employer-paid premium.

Standard COBRA is 18 months from the qualifying event. Extensions to 29 months if SSA determines disability, or 36 months for dependents in cases of divorce, death of covered employee, Medicare enrollment of employee, or dependent aging out. Multiple qualifying events can stack. Coverage is identical to your previous plan - same network, same deductible, just much higher premium.

Usually NO. ACA marketplace plans with subsidies are almost always cheaper, especially if your reduced income qualifies for premium tax credits (most laid-off workers do). The exception: if you're mid-deductible and have planned procedures coming, keeping COBRA preserves your accumulated out-of-pocket spending; ACA resets it. Compare carefully during your 60-day election window.

No - the 60-day election window is strict. However, since coverage is retroactive to the qualifying event date, you can delay deciding while a new job's coverage starts, then back-pay if an unexpected medical event happens. Many people use this "wait and see" strategy as catastrophic coverage. Pay the premium only if you need to use the coverage.