What is COBRA insurance?
COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act, created as a health insurance safety net.
COBRA lets you extend your former employer's health plan. You benefit from the same coverage, though your former employer stops contributing money, which means you pay the entire premium.
Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), people with pre-existing conditions had difficulty getting health insurance on the private market. Although the ACA removed pre-existing condition clauses, COBRA remains an option for keeping health insurance during the transition.
Who is eligible for COBRA?
You can elect COBRA for you and your family when:
- You quit your job
- You were fired (unless it was for "gross misconduct")
- Your hours were reduced
- You lost coverage because of a death or divorce
How does COBRA health insurance work?
If you become eligible for COBRA, your employer will notify the insurance company within 30 days of your last day.
The health insurance company will send you information about how to sign up for COBRA and how much it will cost. You have 60 days to sign up.
With COBRA, you can use your health insurance plan like you did when employed. However, you’ll pay all the costs without help from your former employer.
You can keep COBRA for at least 18 months. Sometimes, you can have a COBRA plan for up to 36 months, depending on the qualifying event.
How does COBRA insurance work if I quit my job?
Yes, you can get COBRA if you quit. Regardless of the reasons for leaving your job, you can elect COBRA within 60 days of your last day.
Nothing about your coverage, eligibility, or the time you can keep COBRA changes if you quit vs. a layoff or being fired.
How much does COBRA cost?
COBRA requires you to pay 100% of the health insurance premium plus up to a 2% administrative fee. Your former employer will no longer pay any part of the cost.
The cost of COBRA depends on the health insurance plan. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average cost of an employer-sponsored family plan in 2021 was $22,221. The employer paid a portion of that cost when you were employed, but with COBRA you will pay the entire amount.
COBRA is pricey, but there are some options for help. First, you can use Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to pay your COBRA premiums if you have one.
The U.S. Department of Labor offers a Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) for people who lose their jobs because of the “negative effects of global trade.” The HCTC pays 72.5% of premiums if you’re eligible.
Why are COBRA insurance premiums so high?
COBRA insurance premiums are high because when you leave a job, you're no longer part of an employer-sponsored health plan, which means you have to pay the full cost of the coverage. Usually, employers pay a significant portion of an employee's healthcare premiums.
What's the process for enrolling in COBRA?
Enrolling in COBRA is relatively simple. You will have 60 days to notify your health plan administrator that you want to enroll. They will send you a notice of COBRA eligibility, and from there, you will select the option to enroll for yourself and any eligible family members who want to enroll.
The notice will also provide detailed information on the premiums you will need to pay and your payment options. You will need to make a payment within 45 days of submitting the application form for your benefits to apply.
Can I start or stop COBRA coverage at any time?
You can start COBRA coverage at any time during the 60 days, even if you waived coverage at first, but premiums will be retroactive. You can also cancel COBRA coverage at any time.
COBRA coverage ends automatically when you:
- Reach the end of your coverage period
- Stop paying premiums
- Become eligible for Medicare
COBRA coverage also ends if the employer:
- Goes out of business
- Stops offering health insurance benefits to workers
If the employer changes health plans, you can switch to the new one like everybody else, but you can't keep the old one. If you have a family health plan, not all family members must enroll in COBRA.
What is mini-COBRA insurance?
Mini-COBRA permits employees of companies with 20 or fewer employees to continue health insurance coverage. It allows you to pay group rates for a specified time period. Most states have mini-COBRA laws for people who are employed by small businesses.
These state laws work like the federal COBRA law, but the length of eligibility may differ:
- Sixteen states allow mini-COBRA coverage for 18 months.
- New York and California allow mini-COBRA for 36 months.
- Connecticut lets residents have a mini-COBRA plan for 30 months.
Not all states allow mini-COBRA plans, and others have limited eligibility. State laws vary significantly, so check with your state’s Department of Insurance for specifics about mini-COBRA laws.
COBRA coverage alternatives
Alternatives to COBRA include a catastrophic health plan, short-term health insurance, or an ACA-compliant health plan. Any of these may be more affordable.
- The health insurance marketplace. Losing employer-sponsored coverage entitles you to buy an ACA plan outside the normal open enrollment period. Under the health care reform law, insurers can't charge much higher premiums or reject your application because of your health.
- The private market. You might be able to find an individual health insurance plan outside the marketplace that offers you better benefits and still costs less than COBRA.
- A spouse’s plan. If your spouse has their own insurance, you can likely be added to the plan.
- A catastrophic health plan. These ACA plans are available to people under 30 who face specific hardships. They have high deductibles but provide low-cost protection.
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). If coverage for your kids is your main concern, see if they qualify for CHIP.
- Short-term health plans. Short-term plans bridge the gap until you get new insurance, but have some limitations. Some states don’t allow short-term plans and more states restrict how long you can keep one.
If you decide on a COBRA alternative, check the provider networks and what's covered. Find out more about your options by using our Health Insurance Finder tool.
Is COBRA insurance worth it?
COBRA is expensive, but it could be worth it if you can’t find a better alternative. If you have a lot of medical needs and can’t be without coverage, COBRA is an easy way to continue with the same network and providers.
You may also want a COBRA plan if you expect new coverage to begin soon, such as with a new employer, but there is an anticipated gap before your new coverage kicks in.
Silver is the second most popular plan in the ACA exchanges, with 35% of people with a Silver plan. Silver has lower premiums than any plan except for Bronze. However, it has lower out-of-pocket costs than Bronze. Silver plans pick up 70% of the costs, while members pay 30% The average single coverage in a Silver plan is $481 monthly and $1,179 for a family plan. Bronze is the most popular type of plan in the ACA exchanges, with 41% of members with a Bronze plan. These plans have the lowest premiums, but also the highest out-of-pocket costs in the exchanges. Bronze plans pick up 60% of the costs, while members pay 40%. The average single coverage monthly cost in a Bronze plan is $440 and $1,080 for a family plan.
Platinum plans have the highest premiums but the lowest out-of-pocket
costs. So, you pay more for the coverage initially but less than other
plans when you need health care services. Platinum plans pick up 90% of
the costs, while members pay 10%, Not many health insurers offer
Platinum plans. Only 2% of members in ACA plans have a Platinum plan, so
you may have trouble finding one. The average monthly premiums for
single coverage in a Platinum plan is $706 and the average family
coverage costs $1,460.
Gold plans have lower premiums than Platinum, but higher premiums than
Silver and Bronze. Gold also has lower out-of-pocket costs than Silver
and Bronze, but higher than Platinum. Gold plans pick up 80% of the
costs, while members pay 20%. The average monthly premium for a single
Gold plan is $596. Family coverage averages $1,426 per month.Health insurance finder tool
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Preferred-provider Organization (PPOs)
Preferred-provider organization (PPOs) plans are the most common type of
employer-based health plan. PPOs have higher premiums than HMOs and HDHPs, but
those added costs offer you flexibility. A PPO allows you to get care anywhere
and without primary care provider referrals. You may have to pay more to get
out-of-network care, but a PPO will pick up a portion of the costs.
Find out more about the differences between plansHealth maintenance organization (HMO)
Health maintenance organization (HMO) plans have lower premiums than PPOs.
However, HMOs have more restrictions. HMOs don't allow you to get care outside
of your provider network. If you get out-of-network care, you'll likely have to
pay for all of it. HMOs also require you to get primary care provider referrals
to see specialists.
Find out more about the differences between plansHigh-deductible health plans (HDHPs)
High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have become more common as employers look
to reduce their health costs. HDHPs have lower premiums than PPOs and HMOs, but
much higher deductibles. A deductible is what you have to pay for health care
services before your health plan chips in money. Once you reach your deductible,
the health plan pays a portion and you pay your share, which is called
coinsurance.
Find out more about the differences between plansExclusive provider organization (EPO)
Exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans offer the flexibility of a PPO with
the restricted network found in an HMO. EPOs don't require that members get a
referral to see a specialist. In that way, it's similar to a PPO. However, an
EPO requires in-network care, which is like an HMO.
Find out more about the differences between plans
Know more individual insurance / ACA
Know more individual insurance / ACA 
Know more individual insurance / ACA 
Frequently asked questions about COBRA insurance
Does COBRA have dental and vision insurance?
Yes, COBRA includes your dental and vision insurance for the same period of 18 months.
If your dental and vision is separate from your medical insurance, you can keep one or the other through COBRA. If the dental or vision is bundled with your medical insurance, it will continue.
Can you change from COBRA to a marketplace plan?
Yes, you can change from COBRA to a marketplace plan during the open enrollment period if:
- You decide to end your COBRA plan early.
- Your COBRA insurance plan is going to expire soon.
- The amount you usually pay for COBRA changes because your former employer stopped contributing to your health insurance plan or you lost a government subsidy. Now you will have to pay the full cost.
Can I continue my COBRA coverage for a longer period?
Yes, you can extend your COBRA continuation coverage in two specific circumstances. The first is when a qualified beneficiary becomes disabled and meets specific requirements. They are entitled to an 11-month extension on their maximum period of continuation coverage.
The second is if you experience another life event that qualifies you for an extension, such as:
- Divorce or legal separation
- Death of a covered employee
- If the qualified employee becomes eligible for a Medicare health care plan (in specific situations)
- If you lose dependent child status under the program.
