COBRA vs Marketplace: Let AI Compare the Real Cost

The AI Comparison Tool

Enter what your COBRA letter says, plus a few basics. The tool shows your COBRA cost per year next to an estimated Marketplace cost with subsidy help — side by side, plain English.

Educational estimates only — not quotes. Your final price comes from your actual application. Estimates use the 2027 federal contribution table (approximate) and 2025 federal poverty guidelines for illustration. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or stored on a server.

The Rest of the Comparison (Beyond the Premium)

Premium is one line of the bill. Here’s what the tool can’t put a number on:

	COBRA	Marketplace plan
How long it lasts	Usually up to 18 months, then it ends — no extensions for most people.	Yours as long as you pay and stay eligible. Renew every Open Enrollment.
Your doctors	Same plan, same network — nothing changes.	New network. Your doctors and prescriptions must be checked before you enroll, not after.
Deductible	You keep the progress you already paid toward this year’s deductible.	New plan, new deductible — it resets to zero.
Help with cost	None. You pay the full premium plus a small admin fee.	Premium tax credits and cost-sharing help based on income — this is where most people save.
Can you change your mind?	If you enroll then voluntarily drop COBRA mid-year, there’s no new Special Enrollment Period — you wait for Open Enrollment.	You get a 60-day Special Enrollment Period from losing your job coverage. Use it or lose it.

Sources: HealthCare.gov — if you lose job-based coverage · HealthCare.gov — COBRA coverage · U.S. Dept. of Labor — COBRA

Common Questions

Do I have to take COBRA?
No. You can compare COBRA against Marketplace plans and pick either one. You don’t have to enroll in COBRA to keep your options open — but watch the 60-day clock.

What if I already signed up for COBRA and regret it?
You can switch to a Marketplace plan during Open Enrollment no matter what. Outside Open Enrollment, you can switch if your COBRA is running out or your former employer stops contributing toward it. Voluntarily dropping COBRA early doesn’t open a new enrollment window.

Is COBRA retroactive?
Yes — you have 60 days to elect COBRA, and coverage can be retroactive to when your job coverage ended. That’s a useful safety net while you compare, but don’t let the 60 days expire on both options.

Can you just tell me which is better for me?
That’s literally what I do. Text me your COBRA number and your situation at 954-787-9118 — five minutes, plain English, no charge.

Your 3 Steps From Here

1. Run your estimate. Use the comparison tool above — or the 60-second subsidy calculator for the full picture.
2. Self-enroll through my link. Start your Marketplace application — I’m your agent of record from the first click, at no extra cost to you.
3. I review it the same day. Wrong plan for your doctors, a missing document, a deadline detail — if I see a problem, I call you personally before it becomes a headache.