COBRA Cost Calculator
COBRA keeps your job's health plan after you leave, but you pay the full price your employer used to share. Enter one number to see what it will cost, then compare it with your other options.
Esta página en españolAn estimate, not a quote. Your COBRA notice has the exact price. The income check uses the 2027 line, for coverage starting January 2027 or later.
What COBRA really costs
While you work, your employer usually pays a big share of your health insurance premium. COBRA lets you keep the same plan after you leave, but you pay the whole premium yourself, plus a small fee. If your employer has 20 or more employees, federal COBRA can charge up to 102 percent of the full cost for up to 18 months.
If you worked for a Florida employer with fewer than 20 employees, the state's continuation law usually applies instead, at up to 115 percent of the group premium. Your COBRA or continuation notice lists the exact price. Before it arrives, box 12 of your W-2 with code DD shows what the plan cost in a year, your share and your employer's together.
Your deadlines
You have at least 60 days to elect COBRA, counted from when your coverage ends or when you get the election notice, whichever is later. Once you elect it and pay, coverage goes back to the day your old plan ended, so there's no gap. The first payment is usually due within 45 days of electing.
Losing job-based coverage also gives you 60 days to pick a Marketplace plan. A private plan doesn't need an enrollment window at all: it can start the first of any month, if approved. Line these dates up before you sign anything.
When COBRA is worth keeping
COBRA often makes sense if you're in the middle of treatment, have already met most of this year's deductible, need to keep specific doctors, or only need a month or two until a new job's plan starts. It's the same plan, so what you've already paid toward this year's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum still counts.
When something else costs less
If your household income is under the 2027 subsidy line, a Marketplace plan with a tax credit is often far cheaper than COBRA. Being offered COBRA doesn't stop you from getting the credit; enrolling in COBRA does, for the months you're on it.
If you're over the line and healthy, a private plan priced on your age, location and health answers may cost less than either. Approval isn't certain and benefits vary by plan, so I show the options side by side before you choose. One caution: if you start COBRA and then drop it on your own mid-year, you usually have to wait for open enrollment to get a Marketplace plan.
Common questions
How much does COBRA cost?
Up to 102 percent of the plan's full premium, your share plus your employer's, for employers with 20 or more employees. Smaller Florida employers fall under state continuation, usually at up to 115 percent.
Can I get a Marketplace plan instead of COBRA?
Yes. Losing job-based coverage gives you 60 days to pick a Marketplace plan, and being offered COBRA doesn't make you ineligible for a tax credit.
Can I switch from COBRA to the Marketplace later?
During open enrollment, or when your COBRA runs out. If you drop COBRA on your own mid-year, you usually have to wait for open enrollment. A private plan doesn't need an enrollment window, if approved.
Does my deductible carry over on COBRA?
Yes. It's the same plan, so what you've paid toward this plan year's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum still counts.
How long does COBRA last?
Usually up to 18 months after a job loss or a cut in hours. Some events, like a disability or a divorce, can extend it for certain people.
Where do I find my plan's full cost?
On your COBRA election notice. Before that, box 12 of your W-2 with code DD shows the plan's yearly cost, your share and your employer's together. Divide by 12.