Direct answer: Losing job-based health coverage may qualify you for a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period, subject to eligibility and any documents HealthCare.gov requests. You can pick a plan up to 60 days before, or up to 60 days after, the date the coverage ends. You may also be able to keep the employer plan:
- Federal COBRA (employers with 20 or more employees): generally up to 18 months, at up to 102% of the full premium.
- Florida's continuation law (employers with fewer than 20 employees): up to 18 months, at up to 115%.
Compare both against a Marketplace plan with any premium tax credit you qualify for. Florida has not expanded its low-income adult program, so most adults without children or a disability will not qualify for low-income coverage after a job loss.
Your options side by side
| Marketplace plan | Federal COBRA | Florida continuation (small employers) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Anyone losing job-based coverage who meets Marketplace rules | Employers with 20+ employees | Employers with fewer than 20 employees (insured plans) |
| Deadline | Pick a plan within 60 days before or after coverage ends | Election period of at least 60 days from the later of the notice or the coverage-loss date | Written notice to the insurer within 63 days of the qualifying event |
| Cost | Plan premium minus any premium tax credit | Up to 102% of the full premium | Up to 115% of the premium |
| How long | Through the plan year; renew at Open Enrollment | Generally 18 months | Up to 18 months |
| Same doctors and deductible progress | New plan, new network, deductible starts over | Same plan | Same plan |
Deadlines to put on your calendar
- The coverage-end date. Get it in writing from HR. It is often the last day of the month, not your last day of work.
- Marketplace window. Up to 60 days before and 60 days after the coverage-end date. If you pick a plan before your coverage ends, the new plan can start the first day of the month after it ends, with no gap.
- COBRA election deadline. It is printed on the election notice. Coverage is retroactive once you elect and pay, so the election window lets you wait and see, but the first premium comes due soon after you elect.
Should I take COBRA or a Marketplace plan?
COBRA usually makes sense when:
- you are mid-treatment with doctors who are not in Marketplace networks,
- you have already met most of this year's deductible, or
- you expect new coverage soon.
A Marketplace plan usually makes sense when your income for the rest of the year qualifies you for a premium tax credit. For context, Polk County residents who picked a Marketplace plan during 2026 Open Enrollment paid an average of $97 a month after credits (CMS 2026 OEP County-Level Public Use File).
Dropping COBRA voluntarily does not open a new Marketplace window. Decide before the original 60 days run out. See COBRA vs a Marketplace plan.
How job loss changes your subsidy
Marketplace savings use your expected household income for the whole calendar year. That includes:
- wages already earned before the layoff,
- severance, and
- unemployment compensation, which counts.
A mid-year layoff often lowers annual income enough to qualify you for a credit. Update HealthCare.gov if a new job starts. See how much income qualifies.
Low-income coverage in Florida after a job loss
Florida has not adopted the ACA's low-income adult expansion. Children, pregnant women and some very low-income parents may qualify for Florida's low-income health program or KidCare; most other adults will not. If your income for the year falls below 100% of the poverty line ($15,960 for one person for 2027 coverage), you may qualify for neither low-income coverage nor a premium tax credit. In that case, compare COBRA or other options with an agent. Always complete the HealthCare.gov application, which screens for Florida's low-income health program and KidCare.
Documents to gather
- A letter showing the coverage-end date for each covered person
- The COBRA or continuation election notice
- The last pay stub, severance terms and any unemployment determination
- Your list of doctors and prescriptions
Call (863) 640-3102 David compares COBRA and Marketplace options for Lakeland and Polk County households. A review does not enroll you.
Related reading
- What happens to my health insurance if I quit my job?
- Can I get coverage outside Open Enrollment?
- Losing coverage hub
- Employee losing group coverage
- Lakeland ACA help
Common questions
Can I get ACA insurance if I lost my job coverage in Florida?
Usually. Losing job-based coverage may qualify you for a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period, subject to eligibility. If it applies, you can pick a plan up to 60 days before or 60 days after the coverage ends.
How much does COBRA cost?
Federal COBRA can cost up to 102% of the plan's full premium, because the employer usually stops paying its share. Florida's continuation law for employers with fewer than 20 employees allows up to 115%.
How long do I have to elect COBRA?
At least 60 days from the later of the date you receive the election notice or the date coverage would end. Florida's small-employer continuation requires written notice to the insurer within 63 days of the qualifying event.
Does unemployment income count for Marketplace savings?
Yes. Unemployment compensation counts toward household income for Marketplace premium tax credits, along with wages earned earlier in the year and severance.
If I drop COBRA later, can I switch to a Marketplace plan?
Not by dropping it voluntarily. Ending COBRA early does not open a Special Enrollment Period. You can switch at Open Enrollment, when COBRA runs out, or if another qualifying event occurs.
Sources
- HealthCare.gov, If you lose job-based coverage
- HealthCare.gov, COBRA coverage and the Marketplace
- HealthCare.gov, Special Enrollment Periods
- U.S. Department of Labor, COBRA continuation coverage
- Florida Statutes §627.6692, Florida Health Insurance Coverage Continuation Act
- HealthCare.gov, What to include as income (unemployment compensation)
- KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions
- CMS, 2026 OEP County-Level PUF (Polk County)