Don’t Pay $2,294/mo
for COBRA.

Up to 102% of the plan’s full cost. You pay the full premium, including the part your employer was paying, plus up to a 2% admin fee (DOL). At KFF’s 2025 average employer premiums ($9,325 single / $26,993 family a year), that works out to about $793/month for single coverage and $2,294/month for family coverage (KFF). Many people see the real number for the first time on the COBRA election notice.

From the date your employer coverage ends (not the date you lost your job). If you have advance notice, you can enroll up to 60 days before the loss of coverage too, which prevents any gap.

Usually yes. Many ACA carriers use the same networks as major employer plans. Your FreedInsure advisor verifies your specific doctors are in-network before you enroll — no surprises.

ACA plans cover pre-existing conditions and ongoing treatment from day one. If continuity with a specific specialist matters, your advisor finds an ACA plan with that doctor in-network. COBRA can be the better call if your specialist isn’t in any ACA network, or if you’ve already met most of this year’s deductible.

If you pick a plan before your job-based coverage ends, your ACA plan can start the 1st of the month after it ends — no gap if your old plan runs through the end of the month. If you pick after, coverage starts the 1st of the month after you pick a plan (HealthCare.gov). Need a bridge? Ask your advisor about short-term medical where your state allows it — start dates and terms depend on the plan and the state, and short-term plans aren’t ACA plans and can exclude pre-existing conditions.

Many people do. Premium tax credits are based on your expected household income for the whole calendar year, including what you earned before the job loss, and under current law they’re available from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level (for one person, about $15,650–$62,600 for 2026 coverage and $15,960–$63,840 for 2027). A mid-year job loss often lowers that number. Estimate carefully: starting with 2026, any advance credit above what you qualify for must be repaid in full at tax time (IRS). In 2026 Open Enrollment, 87% of enrollees got a tax credit, averaging $650/month (CMS).

Yes — 100% free, no fees, no upsells. Insurance carriers pay FreedInsure when you enroll. Your premium is identical whether you enroll through us, through Healthcare.gov directly, or through the carrier. The broker service costs you nothing.

You’d typically have to wait until the next Open Enrollment (Nov 1–Jan 15) to enroll in ACA. Options in between: stay on COBRA, a private plan sold outside the Marketplace (approval depends on eligibility and underwriting, and start dates depend on the plan), short-term medical where your state allows it, or Medicaid, which accepts applications year-round if your income qualifies. Don’t miss the window if you can help it.