COBRA Cost Calculator

COBRA usually costs the full premium plus 2 percent. That means the part you paid, plus the part your employer paid, plus an administrative fee. Enter what you and your employer pay now to estimate your monthly cost. Your COBRA election notice has the exact figure.

Reviewed by Prodest Insurance Group, a licensed insurance agency (NPN 19515569) · Updated 24 September 2026 against current federal guidance.

Prefer to talk? Call (888) 918-4516 · Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern

Estimate Your COBRA Cost

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Or, if you know it:

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Estimated COBRA cost per month

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Enter your figures to see the estimate.

This is an estimate, not a quote. The exact amount is on the COBRA election notice from your plan administrator. Not sure what your employer pays? Ask HR or check your benefits portal. If your employer reports it, Box 12 of your W-2 with code DD shows the total yearly cost of your coverage; divide it by 12 and enter it as the total monthly premium.

How the Estimate Works

Under federal COBRA, your plan can charge up to 102 percent of the full cost of your coverage: what you paid, plus what your employer paid, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. The calculator adds your share and your employer's share, converts your paycheck deduction to a monthly figure, and applies the rule you choose.
During an 11-month disability extension, the charge can rise to 150 percent. Some state continuation laws for small employers set a different cap. Florida allows up to 115 percent, California up to 110 percent, and Arizona up to 105 percent, while a few states, such as Mississippi and Rhode Island, charge no more than the group rate. Check your state's rules →

Why the Number Looks So High

Most people are surprised by their COBRA cost. The plan has not become more expensive. You are simply seeing the whole cost for the first time, because your employer was paying part of it and that share now becomes yours.
Nothing about your health can change the price or the terms, and the deductible you have already paid this year carries over. If you are mid-treatment, that can make COBRA worth it even at full price. What you are paying for →

What to Do With Your Estimate

  1. Check it against your election notice. The notice lists the exact premium for each plan you can continue.
  2. Compare it with a Marketplace plan. Premium tax credits do not apply to COBRA, but they may lower a Marketplace plan considerably, depending on your income.
  3. Weigh what you have already paid. Your deductible carries over on COBRA and resets on a new plan.
  4. Decide within 60 days. COBRA is retroactive if you elect within the window, but the back premium comes due at once.
  5. Speak with a licensed agent if you want the comparison done for you. There is no cost.
Compare COBRA and Marketplace coverage →

Want a real number beside your estimate?

A licensed agent can compare your COBRA cost with Marketplace and private plans for your household in a few minutes, at no cost.
Get My Options
This page is general information, not advice about your specific situation. Your plan documents and the Marketplace determine what applies to you. A licensed agent can review your circumstances with you.

Common Questions

Your plan can charge up to 102 percent of the full cost of your coverage: your share, your employer's share, and a 2 percent administrative fee.

Yes, in two cases. During an 11-month disability extension the charge can rise to 150 percent, and some state continuation laws for small employers allow more, such as Florida at up to 115 percent.

Ask HR or check your benefits portal. If your employer reports it, Box 12 of your W-2 with code DD shows the total yearly cost of your coverage, including both shares.

No. It is an estimate. The exact premium is on the COBRA election notice from your plan administrator.

No. Premium tax credits apply only to Marketplace plans.

It may be, depending on your household income and the plans available. Compare networks and deductibles as well as premiums.

Generally yes, but the premium can change when the plan's rates change for everyone, such as at renewal.

Read Next

How much COBRA actually costs →
Compare COBRA and Marketplace coverage →
Is COBRA retroactive? →
How long does COBRA last? →
COBRA rules by state →

Sources

The information on this page is drawn from the following federal sources. Your own plan documents govern your specific situation.

Turn the estimate into a decision

A licensed agent can check your election notice figure, compare it with plans that may cost less for your household, and help you decide before your window closes. No cost, no obligation.
Get My Options
This page is general information, not advice about your specific situation. Your plan documents and the Marketplace determine what applies to you. A licensed agent can review your circumstances with you.

Prefer to talk? Call (888) 918-4516 · Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern

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.

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