LOSING YOUR HEALTH COVERAGE?

Know All Your Options, Not Just COBRA.

Whether you’re leaving a job, losing coverage from a spouse’s plan, or aging off a parent’s policy, you have more choices than you think. Compare COBRA continuation against ACA Marketplace and private plans, with a licensed agent guiding you at no cost.

Licensed agents. No-cost consultation. No obligation.

What Is COBRA?

COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is a federal law that lets you temporarily keep your employer’s group health plan after certain life events, typically for 18 to 36 months. Your coverage stays exactly the same. What changes is the cost: your employer stops covering their share of the premium, so you pay the full cost yourself, plus a small administrative fee.

COBRA can be a good fit if you want to keep your current doctors and plan without disruption. But it is rarely the cheapest option, which is why it is worth comparing against your other choices before you enroll.

You may qualify for COBRA if you have experienced:

Job loss or layoff

Reduced work hours

Divorce or legal separation

Death of a covered employee

Aging off a parent's health plan

A covered employee enrolling in Medicare

Your Coverage Options, Compared

COBRA is one path, but it is not the only one. Here is how your main options stack up.

COBRA Continuation

What it is: Keep your exact same employer plan for a limited time.

Cost driver: You pay the full premium your employer used to help cover, plus a small admin fee.

Best for: People who want zero disruption to their current doctors, prescriptions, or plan and can afford the higher premium.

ACA Marketplace Plan

What it is: A new individual or family plan purchased through the ACA Marketplace.

Cost driver: Based on income and household size. A premium tax credit is available below 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

Best for: People open to a new plan who want to explore whether subsidies could lower their monthly cost.

Private Individual Plan

What it is: A plan purchased directly through an insurance carrier, outside the Marketplace.

Cost driver: Varies by carrier, coverage level, and health needs.

Best for: People who do not qualify for ACA subsidies or want different plan features than the Marketplace offers.

Not sure which fits your situation? A licensed agent can walk you through all three, free and with no obligation.

This website provides educational information about health insurance and is a solicitation for insurance. It is a non-government website operated by Prodest Insurance Group, a health insurance agency that presents health plans, which may include Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, private health insurance, short-term medical insurance, or supplemental insurance based on the consumer's selection. Qualified ACA plans must meet or exceed the essential benefit requirements of the Affordable Care Act; non-ACA plans are not required to provide all of the essential benefit requirements contained in the Affordable Care Act. Pre-existing condition provisions, benefit availability, limitations and exclusions vary by plan type and state. You should review all plan details and product brochures before purchase. To qualify for ACA health insurance coverage outside of the open enrollment period, you must meet special enrollment requirements.

*Eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions is based on annual federal income thresholds, household size, and plan availability within the applicable service area. Premium rates, plan availability, and subsidy amounts vary by state and marketplace. Final eligibility and premium obligations are determined by the Health Insurance Marketplace under Internal Revenue Code Section 36B and applicable federal regulations.