After a job loss, compare the true cost of keeping your employer plan via COBRA vs. switching to an ACA marketplace plan.
This calculator compares the total cost of each option over your coverage gap: monthly premiums multiplied by months needed, plus your expected out-of-pocket medical spending (capped at each plan's deductible, simplified for clarity).
COBRA lets you keep your exact same employer plan and network, but you pay the full premium — including the portion your employer used to cover — often making it 2-3x more expensive than what you paid as an employee.
The subsidy cliff matters: ACA marketplace subsidies are based on your current expected income, not your prior salary. If you've lost your job, your expected annual income may be much lower than before — which often qualifies you for substantial premium subsidies that dramatically undercut COBRA's full-price premium.
For most people, especially those whose income drops significantly after job loss, marketplace plans with subsidies are substantially cheaper than COBRA. COBRA mainly makes sense if you're mid-treatment and need to preserve a specific network, or only need coverage for a very short gap where switching plans isn't worth the hassle.