The Complete Guide to COBRA Insurance
What is COBRA insurance? It lets you keep your employer’s group health plan after a job loss or other qualifying event, usually for 18 months and up to 36. Here’s who qualifies, what it costs (up to 102% of the plan’s full premium), the DOL election deadlines, and when an ACA Marketplace plan may cost less.
Get My Free Quote ↓Quick answer: COBRA insurance is federal continuation coverage that lets you keep your former employer’s group health plan after a job loss, cut in hours or other qualifying event, usually for 18 months and up to 36 months for some events. It generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees, and you pay the full premium, including the share your employer used to pay, plus up to a 2% administrative fee (102% of the plan’s cost). You get at least 60 days to elect it, and losing job-based coverage also opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for an ACA Marketplace plan, so compare both before you decide.
Last updated: October 5, 2026
What You Need to Know
This guide explains what COBRA insurance is, who qualifies, how long it lasts, what it costs, the notice and election deadlines that protect your rights, and how COBRA compares with an ACA Marketplace plan. The federal rules come from the U.S. Department of Labor, CMS and HealthCare.gov, linked in the sources below.
FreedInsure LLC is an independent brokerage; its licensed agent, Constantino Lardi (NPN 20230457), is licensed in 42 states. We compare coverage from 14+ health insurance carriers to find your best option. Our help is free to you. Call (844) 788-3733 or use the form below for personalized guidance.
This page covers: what COBRA is and who qualifies, how long it lasts, what it costs, how it compares with a Marketplace plan and your other options, a deadline table, the most common mistakes people make, and answers to 13 frequently asked questions.
Understanding COBRA Insurance
COBRA is short for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the federal law that created continuation coverage. It isn’t a separate insurance policy: you stay on the same group health plan you had at work, and you pay for it yourself.
What It Is
COBRA continuation coverage lets you keep your former employer’s group health plan for a limited time after a qualifying event such as a job loss or a cut in hours — usually 18 months, and up to 36 months for some events — as long as you pay the premium yourself. The coverage must be identical to what similarly situated active employees get, so your network, deductible and benefits stay the same, and plan changes made for active employees apply to you too.
Who Qualifies for COBRA
COBRA generally applies to private-sector group health plans at employers that had at least 20 employees on more than half of their typical business days in the prior year (part-time workers count as a fraction of a full-time worker), and to state and local government plans. It doesn’t apply to plans sponsored by the federal government or by churches and certain church-related organizations (DOL), or to plans sponsored by the governments of the District of Columbia or U.S. territories (CMS). You’re a qualified beneficiary if you were covered by the plan the day before a qualifying event, as the employee or as the employee’s spouse, former spouse or dependent child.
Qualifying events include losing your job for any reason other than gross misconduct, a cut in hours, the covered employee’s death, divorce or legal separation, the covered employee becoming entitled to Medicare, and a child losing dependent status under the plan. Work for a smaller employer? Some states have their own continuation (“mini-COBRA”) laws, so check with your state insurance department.
How Long COBRA Lasts
18 months when the qualifying event is a job loss or a cut in hours. 29 months if Social Security determines that a qualified beneficiary in the family is disabled before the 60th day of COBRA coverage and the disability continues through the first 18 months; you must notify the plan of that determination, and the plan can charge up to 150% of the plan’s cost during the extra 11 months. 36 months for a spouse or dependent child after the employee’s death, divorce or legal separation, or Medicare entitlement, or a child’s loss of dependent status, and when a second qualifying event happens during an 18-month period. Plans may choose to offer longer coverage.
COBRA can end early if premiums aren’t paid on time, the employer stops offering any group health plan, or you start coverage under another group health plan or become entitled to Medicare after electing COBRA.
Your Options for COBRA Insurance
COBRA vs. an ACA Marketplace Plan
Being offered COBRA doesn’t stop you from getting a Marketplace plan or a premium tax credit (DOL). The IRS treats you as eligible for COBRA only if you actually enroll in it, so you can’t get a tax credit for months you’re enrolled in COBRA. HealthCare.gov notes that Marketplace plans may cost less than COBRA, especially if you qualify for savings based on your income. COBRA can make sense if you’re in the middle of treatment with doctors who aren’t in local Marketplace networks, you’ve already paid much of this year’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum (a new plan generally starts its own), or your income is too high for a tax credit and your employer plan is richer than what you can buy. A Marketplace plan usually wins if your household income is 100%–400% of the federal poverty level, because the only way to get the premium tax credit is through the Marketplace. If your income is low enough for Medicaid, apply for Medicaid instead. COBRA vs. Marketplace: which costs less →
ACA Marketplace Plans
The ACA Marketplace (HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange) offers plans from private insurers in four metal tiers: Bronze (60% actuarial value, lowest premium), Silver (70%, the only tier with cost-sharing reductions), Gold (80%) and Platinum (90%, highest premium, lowest out-of-pocket costs). All cover the 10 essential health benefits and pre-existing conditions, and in-network out-of-pocket costs are capped at $12,000 for one person in 2027. Premium tax credits are based on income. Check your subsidy →
Private Plans Sold Outside the Marketplace
FreedInsure can also quote private PPO and EPO plans sold outside the ACA Marketplace. Some of these plans use the Cigna PPO network; they are not insured by Cigna. The Cigna PPO network is a provider network, not an insurance company, and it doesn’t pay claims. A plan that uses the Cigna PPO network sets its own benefits and pays claims through its own administrator. Before you get care, confirm your doctor or facility is in network using the directory and phone number on your plan ID card. A “PPO” label doesn’t guarantee out-of-network coverage. You can apply for these plans outside Open Enrollment, but approval depends on each plan’s eligibility rules and any underwriting, and the start date depends on the plan. These plans are not sold through the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov or your state’s exchange) and are not individual-market ACA plans. You can’t use a premium tax credit or cost-sharing reduction to pay for them. As HealthCare.gov puts it, “the only way to get the premium tax credit is through the Marketplace.” Ask us to confirm in writing how a plan handles pre-existing conditions; Marketplace plans must cover them. How private plans compare →
Straight talk: A plan sold outside the Marketplace can cost less than a full-price ACA plan if you’re healthy, earn too much for a tax credit, or want a specific network. But if you qualify for a tax credit or Medicaid, have a pre-existing condition, are pregnant or planning to be, or take expensive medications, an ACA plan is usually the safer buy, and the only way to get the premium tax credit is through the Marketplace. We’ll price both side by side before you decide. Call (844) 788-3733.
Important: Plans sold outside the ACA Marketplace may be subject to underwriting, age limits, state availability and each plan’s own eligibility rules. Not all plans are available in all states. Rates are not guaranteed and can change. Benefits, limits and exclusions are set by the official plan document or policy, which controls if it differs from this page. This page is a general summary, not a contract or an offer of coverage.
Short-Term Medical
Short-term health insurance can bridge a gap where your state allows it. Short-term plans are temporary coverage, and how long you can keep one depends on your state and the plan, from 3 months or less in some states to longer terms with renewals where state law allows. They aren’t ACA plans: coverage is medically underwritten, pre-existing conditions are typically excluded, the start date depends on the plan, and you can’t use a tax credit. Don’t drop COBRA for a short-term plan without checking when you could get a Marketplace plan again, because ending COBRA early doesn’t open a Special Enrollment Period. Short-term plans →
Supplemental Insurance
THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MAJOR MEDICAL COVERAGE. LACK OF MAJOR MEDICAL COVERAGE (OR OTHER MINIMUM ESSENTIAL COVERAGE) MAY RESULT IN AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT WITH YOUR TAXES.
Hospital indemnity, critical illness, accident, dental and vision coverage can be added on top of a major medical plan such as COBRA or an ACA plan. Hospital indemnity and other fixed-indemnity plans pay a set dollar amount for each covered service or day, no matter what the provider charges; you pay the rest, and there’s no out-of-pocket maximum. They aren’t major medical coverage or minimum essential coverage, so they can’t replace COBRA. Supplemental options →
Costs and Subsidies for COBRA Insurance
What COBRA Costs
COBRA premiums can’t exceed 102% of the plan’s total cost: the share you paid as an employee, plus the share your employer paid, plus up to a 2% administrative fee. During the 11-month disability extension, the plan can charge up to 150%. CMS gives this example: if coverage costs $400 a month, with $100 paid by the employee and $300 by the employer, the plan may charge up to $408 a month for COBRA. Employers may choose to pay part or all of the COBRA premium, and your election notice lists the amount you owe. COBRA insurance cost guide →
ACA Premiums Before Subsidies
Marketplace insurers can set premiums based on only five things: age, location, tobacco use, whether the plan covers one person or a family, and the plan category. Premiums can be up to 3 times higher for older people than for younger ones (HealthCare.gov). Your actual premium depends on your ZIP code and the plans available there.
After Subsidies (2027 Rules)
The enhanced credits that ran through 2025 expired and are not back for 2027 unless Congress acts. For 2027 coverage you pay 2.15%–10.22% of income for the benchmark Silver plan at 100%–400% of the federal poverty level, and there is no credit above 400% ($63,840 for one person), so subsidies are smaller than in 2025. Example: one person with $60,000 of household income for 2027 coverage is at about 376% of the poverty level ($60,000 ÷ $15,960, the 2026 poverty guideline for one person in the 48 contiguous states and DC, which sets 2027 tax credits), so the expected contribution is 10.22% of income: $6,132 a year, or about $511 a month, for the benchmark Silver plan, and the tax credit pays the part of that plan’s premium above that amount. If your COBRA premium is higher than that, a Marketplace plan may cost less. In 2026 Open Enrollment, people who picked a Marketplace plan with a tax credit paid an average of $96 a month after the credit (CMS). Estimate your 2027 subsidy →
Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSR)
If income is 100–250% FPL, you qualify for Cost-Sharing Reductions on Silver plans: lower deductibles and copays, and a lower out-of-pocket maximum — $4,000 for one person up to 200% FPL, or $9,600 at 200%–250% FPL, instead of $12,000 in 2027. CSR only applies to Silver plans bought through the Marketplace — compare Silver first if you’re CSR-eligible. This is separate from premium subsidies.
Enrollment and Deadlines for COBRA Insurance
COBRA Notice and Election Deadlines
Federal rules set the minimum timeline below (U.S. Department of Labor). Your plan can give you more time, but not less. The election notice comes from the plan administrator, which isn’t always your employer.
| Step | Deadline | Who acts |
|---|---|---|
| Job loss, cut in hours, death or Medicare entitlement of the employee | Within 30 days after the event, the employer notifies the plan administrator | Employer |
| Divorce, legal separation or a child losing dependent status | You notify the plan; its deadline can’t be shorter than 60 days | You or another qualified beneficiary |
| Election notice | Within 14 days after the administrator is notified; within 44 days after the qualifying event (or loss of coverage) when the employer is also the administrator | Plan administrator |
| Election window | At least 60 days, from the later of the date the election notice is provided or the date coverage would end | You |
| First premium | At least 45 days after you elect | You |
| Later premiums | Grace period of at least 30 days for each payment | You |
| Disability extension (to 29 months) | Notify the plan of the Social Security disability determination within the plan’s deadline, which can’t be shorter than 60 days | You |
Using the COBRA and Marketplace Deadlines Together
Electing COBRA within the window keeps your coverage continuous: your first payment generally covers the period from the date your coverage ended, and if you only need COBRA for a short time, such as one or two months, you can pay for just those months from the coverage loss date (CMS). Your Marketplace window runs on its own clock: you can pick a Marketplace plan up to 60 days before or after losing job-based coverage, and being offered COBRA doesn’t limit your eligibility for a Marketplace plan or tax credit (DOL). That gives you time to compare both before you decide, and COBRA can cover a short gap until a Marketplace plan starts. Check your Marketplace start date before you end COBRA (HealthCare.gov).
Switching From COBRA to a Marketplace Plan
Outside Open Enrollment, HealthCare.gov lets you switch from COBRA to a Marketplace plan if your COBRA coverage is running out, if you have to pay the full cost because your former employer stops contributing, or if it’s still within 60 days of losing your job-based coverage. When COBRA runs out, you have 60 days to enroll in a Marketplace plan through a Special Enrollment Period, or 30 days to request special enrollment in another group health plan, such as a spouse’s (DOL). Ending COBRA early or stopping your premium payments doesn’t qualify, so you would wait for the next Open Enrollment unless another life event applies. After you lose job-based coverage, a Marketplace plan starts the first day of the month after the old coverage ends if you pick a plan in time.
Open Enrollment
November 1 through January 15 on HealthCare.gov; for 2027 coverage that’s November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage. State exchanges can set different dates. During Open Enrollment you can move from COBRA to a Marketplace plan for any reason.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
Outside Open Enrollment, you need a qualifying life event, usually with a 60-day window: losing job-based coverage or having COBRA run out, getting married, having a baby or adopting, or moving to a new ZIP code or county. Divorce or legal separation qualifies only if you lose coverage, and losing Medicaid or CHIP gives you 90 days. Complete QLE list →
Plans Sold Outside the Marketplace
Short-term plans, private PPO and EPO plans, supplemental coverage, dental, vision and life insurance can be applied for outside Open Enrollment, but approval depends on each plan’s eligibility and underwriting rules, and the start date depends on the plan. Medicaid and CHIP accept applications year-round.
How FreedInsure Enrolls You
Call (844) 788-3733 or submit the form. A licensed advisor calls within 15 minutes, compares your COBRA premium with Marketplace plans and any tax credit you qualify for, and can enroll you over the phone. Marketplace start dates follow HealthCare.gov’s rules for your situation. Our help is free to you.
Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Not Checking Your Subsidy
Many people assume they earn too much. For 2027 coverage, one person can earn up to $63,840 (400% of the federal poverty level) and still qualify for a premium tax credit, and being offered COBRA doesn’t make you ineligible. A 60-second check costs nothing. Check now →
Mistake 2: Lowest Premium ≠ Lowest Total Cost
A Bronze plan with a low premium and a high deductible can cost more over a year than a Silver or Gold plan if you use a lot of care. Calculate total cost = premiums + expected out-of-pocket costs, up to the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum ($12,000 for one person in 2027). The same math applies to COBRA: if you’ve already met most of this year’s deductible on your employer plan, staying on COBRA through the end of the year can cost less than starting over on a new plan.
Mistake 3: Skipping CSR on Silver
If income qualifies for Cost-Sharing Reductions (100–250% FPL) and you choose Bronze instead of Silver, you give up lower deductibles and a lower out-of-pocket maximum (as low as $4,000 for one person in 2027, instead of $12,000). A broker ensures you don’t leave money on the table.
Mistake 4: Going Without Coverage
Without insurance, one emergency room visit, hospital stay or surgery can leave you with large bills. If you skip COBRA and also miss the 60-day Special Enrollment Period, you may have to wait until Open Enrollment for a Marketplace plan.
Mistake 5: Dropping COBRA Mid-Year
Ending COBRA early or stopping your payments doesn’t open a Special Enrollment Period, so you could be uninsured until the next Open Enrollment. Switch within 60 days of losing job-based coverage, during Open Enrollment, or when COBRA runs out, and check your new plan’s start date before you end COBRA. If you’ve applied for Medicaid or CHIP, wait for a final eligibility decision before ending COBRA (HealthCare.gov). Coverage options after a job loss →
How FreedInsure Helps
FreedInsure compares 14+ health insurance carriers simultaneously to find you the best rate and coverage for your specific situation. FreedInsure LLC is an independent insurance agency; its licensed agent, Constantino Lardi (NPN 20230457), is licensed in 42 states. Our help is free to you, and we’ll show you your ACA Marketplace options, including any tax credit you qualify for, next to any private plan.
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Sources
- COBRA continuation coverage: who qualifies, how long it lasts, what it costs — CMS
- COBRA coverage and switching to a Marketplace plan — HealthCare.gov
- Special Enrollment Periods — HealthCare.gov
- Rev. Proc. 2026-26: 2027 premium tax credit percentages (PDF) — IRS
- An Employer’s Guide to Group Health Continuation Coverage Under COBRA (PDF) — U.S. Department of Labor
- 29 CFR 2590.606-4: COBRA election notice deadlines, including the 44-day rule — eCFR
- If you lose job-based health insurance — HealthCare.gov
- How insurance companies set health premiums — HealthCare.gov
- Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report (PDF) — CMS
- 2027 maximum out-of-pocket and cost-sharing reduction limits (PDF) — CMS
- Instructions for Form 8962: COBRA and premium tax credit eligibility — IRS
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