Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.
Direct answer: COBRA continues the employer group plan if you elect it and pay the required amount. A Marketplace plan is a separate individual policy. HealthCare.gov says losing job-based coverage, including when COBRA expires, can open a Special Enrollment Period. Compare networks, drugs, deductibles, out-of-pocket limits, and effective dates. Do not treat a lower monthly amount as the full picture.
| COBRA | Marketplace plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Same employer plan | New individual plan |
| Cost | Up to 102% of the full premium (115% under Florida small-employer continuation) | Premium minus any premium tax credit |
| Deductible progress | Carries over | Starts over |
| Network and drug list | Same | Plan-specific |
| How long | Generally up to 18 months | Plan year; renew each Open Enrollment |
| Window to choose | Election period of at least 60 days | 60 days before or after job coverage ends |
What does COBRA actually continue?
Federal COBRA applies to employers with 20 or more employees and generally lasts up to 18 months. For employers with fewer than 20 employees, Florida's continuation law allows up to 18 months at up to 115% of the premium (Fla. Stat. §627.6692).
COBRA is a continuation right, not a new insurance product. For many group plans, it lets you keep the same employer coverage for a limited period after a qualifying event such as termination of employment. The Department of Labor COBRA page explains who may be eligible and how election notices work. You typically pay the full premium plus any allowed administrative amount because the employer contribution usually stops.
The value of COBRA is continuity: the same deductible progress, the same provider network, and the same formulary, if those features stay in force. That can matter during treatment, a pregnancy, or a prescription that is hard to replace. Continuity is the comparison point, not a slogan about monthly cost.
How is a Marketplace plan different?
Marketplace plans are individual major medical policies sold through HealthCare.gov in Florida. They must cover essential health benefits and follow ACA consumer protections. Premium tax credits, if you qualify, apply only to Marketplace enrollment. Networks, deductibles, referrals, and drug lists can differ from the employer plan you are leaving. Review the Summary of Benefits and Coverage and the formulary for the exact plan ID.
This page is the comparison framework. For the 60-day job-loss sequence, use Lost Job Health Insurance in Florida. For a resignation timeline, use what happens if you quit. If the job exit is an early retirement, also review health insurance if you retire before 65.
Does dropping COBRA open Marketplace enrollment?
HealthCare.gov says a Special Enrollment Period generally applies when COBRA expires or is no longer available, not when someone voluntarily cancels it early. If you elect COBRA, keep the end date on a calendar. If you decline COBRA, the Marketplace window is still tied to the loss of the employer coverage, subject to documentation rules.
Open Enrollment is a separate annual window. During Open Enrollment you can replace COBRA with a Marketplace plan without relying on a Special Enrollment Period. Confirm current dates on the HealthCare.gov dates page.
What should I compare besides the monthly amount?
List doctors, hospitals, specialists, and every prescription with dose and pharmacy. Check whether a referral is required. Compare the deductible, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum. Ask when each option can start so you do not create a gap. Potential differences in household cost vary and are not promises of a lower bill.
If income dropped after the job ended, update the Marketplace income estimate. See what happens if income changes after you enroll and premium tax credit repayment.
What if I need coverage to start this month?
During 2026 Open Enrollment, Polk County Marketplace enrollees paid an average of $97 a month after premium tax credits, against an average full premium of $768 (CMS 2026 OEP County-Level Public Use File). Your figure depends on income, age and plan.
Effective dates are a comparison item, not a footnote. COBRA typically continues the same group contract if you elect and pay on time. A Marketplace plan may start the first of the month after you enroll, or later if you enroll after a cutoff. If you have surgery scheduled, that calendar can matter more than metal level.
If a provider will not hold a date without an active card, ask which payer they will bill. A claim sent to a terminated employer plan can be denied even if you later elect COBRA. Ask the administrator whether retroactive COBRA would cover that date if you elect within the window.
Do not treat a short-term policy as a same-month substitute for either path without reading exclusions. See what short-term insurance does not cover.
Common questions
Is COBRA the same as a Marketplace plan?
No. COBRA continues a group plan you already had. A Marketplace plan is a separate individual policy with its own network, formulary, and cost sharing.
If I stop paying COBRA, can I enroll on HealthCare.gov right away?
HealthCare.gov says voluntarily dropping COBRA generally does not open a Special Enrollment Period. A window can apply when COBRA expires or is no longer available, or when the original employer coverage was lost.
How much does COBRA cost compared with a Marketplace plan?
COBRA can cost up to 102% of the full group premium because the employer usually stops paying its share. A Marketplace plan costs the plan premium minus any premium tax credit you qualify for, so compare both with your income.
What to do next
Put the COBRA election deadline and the Marketplace documentation deadline on one list. Then compare one employer-plan continuation against specific Marketplace plan IDs, not against a generic metal name. David Huff, a licensed Florida health agent, can walk through that comparison. Use Get Help or call (863) 640-3102.
Compare COBRA and Marketplace with your doctors in view
Bring the coverage-end date, COBRA notice, prescriptions, and provider list. A review does not enroll you or cancel COBRA.
Request a Plan Review Call (863) 640-3102Sources
This page is educational. It does not state that one path costs less or fits every household. Eligibility, premiums, networks, and effective dates depend on the employer plan, Marketplace rules, and current official guidance.