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In short COBRA basics The deadlines How to compare If you will be uninsured for a while Refill your medicines before coverage ends Other options Common questions SourcesWhen you leave a job, you have two main choices: continue your old employer plan through COBRA, or buy a plan on the Marketplace. Both have deadlines, so look at them right away. COBRA can feel simple but you generally pay the full cost of the plan, plus a small fee.
COBRA basics
The U.S. Department of Labor explains that COBRA lets you keep your group health coverage for a limited time after certain events such as leaving a job. You generally pay the whole premium, including the share your employer used to pay, plus an administrative fee of up to 2 percent. COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees, and some states have similar rules for smaller ones.
The deadlines
After a qualifying event, you get a notice and a window to choose COBRA, which is generally at least 60 days. If you elect it, coverage is usually backdated to when your old coverage ended. Losing job-based coverage also opens a Special Enrollment Period on the Marketplace, which generally lasts 60 days from the loss of coverage. Read your notice carefully and check dates with your plan or HealthCare.gov.
How to compare
Compare the monthly premium, the deductible, and whether your doctors and medicines are covered. A Marketplace plan may cost less, especially with income-based savings. COBRA keeps the same plan and the same network, and any deductible you already met this year, which can matter if you are mid-treatment. Our guide on what to do after losing insurance walks through this.
If you will be uninsured for a while
Gaps are risky because a single ER visit can be expensive. If you must go without, use lower-cost routes for everyday care: ask for self-pay prices, see seeing a doctor without insurance, and use community health centers. Typical cash prices are on our visit prices, medication prices and lab test prices pages.
Refill your medicines before coverage ends
If you are near the end of your coverage, ask whether you can refill your regular prescriptions first. See our guide on refilling without a doctor visit.
Other options
You may qualify for Medicaid if your income drops, or you may join a spouse or partner's plan, which is also a qualifying event. See how to apply for Medicaid.
- U.S. Department of Labor - COBRA continuation coverage
- HealthCare.gov - Special Enrollment Period
- HealthCare.gov - Coverage if you lose your job
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Common questions
How long do I have to choose COBRA?
Generally at least 60 days from the date of your election notice. Check your notice for the exact date.
Does losing my job let me join the Marketplace?
Yes. Losing job-based coverage generally opens a Special Enrollment Period of 60 days.
Is COBRA more expensive than the Marketplace?
Often, because you usually pay the whole premium plus a fee of up to 2 percent. Compare both before deciding.
Does Pymander replace insurance?
No. Pymander is not insurance. It can help you decide whether a health problem needs in-person care. Pymander is available in all 50 states.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.