COBRA Is Costing You More Than You Think — Here's the Alternative

COBRA continuation coverage is a legal right after qualifying job loss, but it was never designed to be affordable — you inherit the full premium your employer used to subsidize, plus a 2% administrative fee, with no discount for being newly unemployed.

A private PPO plan, underwritten individually, is frequently priced well below the COBRA rate for the same person, especially for those under 55 in good health. The trade-off is medical underwriting — private plans can ask health questions COBRA cannot.

For most people the math is worth running before COBRA's 60-day election window closes: comparing your actual COBRA quote against 2-3 private PPO alternatives takes one phone call and usually reveals real monthly savings.