If you just left a job in Florida and the COBRA paperwork landed with a monthly price that made you sit down, you’re not alone. COBRA lets you keep your old employer plan — but it hands you the entire premium, including the part your employer used to pay, plus a small admin fee. For a lot of Florida families that’s $600, $900, sometimes well over $1,000 a month for coverage that used to feel affordable.
The good news: COBRA is rarely your only choice, and it’s often not the cheapest one. As an independent broker, I’m not tied to a single company — I compare COBRA against private plans and Marketplace options side by side and find the one that actually fits your budget and your health. Here are the COBRA alternatives worth knowing about in Florida.
Why COBRA costs so much
Nothing is wrong with your quote — that’s just how COBRA works. While you were employed, your company likely paid 60–80% of your premium. COBRA lets you stay on the exact same plan, but now you pay 100% of it, plus up to a 2% administrative charge. Same coverage, a much bigger bill. That’s why the number is such a shock, and why it’s worth looking at what else is out there before you sign up.
A private health insurance plan
This is the option most people don’t realize they have, and it’s often the fastest and most affordable. Private plans aren’t limited to Open Enrollment — they can start quickly, which matters when your job coverage is ending. If you’re generally healthy and want predictable monthly costs, a private plan can come in well under a COBRA premium for comparable coverage. Because I’m independent, I can shop private carriers directly and show you exactly what you’d get for the money, so you can compare it against COBRA dollar for dollar.
A Marketplace (ACA) plan — and your special enrollment window
Here’s a detail that saves people real money: losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event. That opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period on the federal Marketplace, so you don’t have to wait for Open Enrollment to sign up. If your income now qualifies you for a subsidy — and after a job loss, it often does — a Marketplace plan can drop your monthly premium dramatically, and it covers pre-existing conditions. For some people this is the cheapest route of all. I’ll run your numbers so you can see the real, after-subsidy cost.
What I’d actually compare for you
Every situation is different, so I don’t push one answer. When we talk, I look at the whole picture and line up your real choices:
The true monthly cost of COBRA versus a private plan versus a subsidized Marketplace plan.
Whether your current doctors and prescriptions are covered under each option.
How fast each one can start, so you don’t end up with a gap in coverage.
Any deadlines — especially that 60-day special enrollment clock — so you keep every option open.
The honest part: for many healthy people leaving a job, a private plan or a subsidized Marketplace plan beats COBRA on price. But not always — if you’re mid-treatment or have already met your deductible for the year, keeping your COBRA plan can be the smarter move. I’ll tell you plainly which way the math points for you. That’s the whole point of working with an independent broker instead of a single carrier.
Don’t wait on the clock
COBRA gives you 60 days to decide, and your Marketplace special enrollment window is also 60 days from when your coverage ends. Those clocks are your friend only if you use them. The sooner we talk, the more options you keep — and the better the odds your new plan starts the day your old one stops, with no gap in between.
Quick answers
Is there something cheaper than COBRA? Often, yes. For many healthy people in Florida, a private plan or a subsidized Marketplace plan costs less than COBRA for similar coverage. The only way to know for sure is to compare all three against your actual situation.
How long do I have to find COBRA alternatives? You generally have 60 days from losing job-based coverage to enroll in a Marketplace plan through a Special Enrollment Period, and 60 days to elect COBRA. Private plans can be started outside those windows.
Can I drop COBRA later if I find something cheaper? You can leave COBRA, but doing it outside a special enrollment window can limit your options — so it’s better to compare before you enroll, not after. That’s exactly what I help with.
Do I have to use the Marketplace to get coverage? No. Private plans are available directly and often start faster. I compare both so you see the full picture, not just one lane.
Let’s find you a better number
If COBRA came in higher than you expected, let’s compare it against your real alternatives before you commit. There’s no cost for my help, and no pressure — just a straight answer on what fits your budget.
Call or text Mark Yacoob at (954) 406-5100, or reach out through yacoobhealthgroup.com. Licensed Florida health insurance broker, NPN 19438278. Independent, so I work for you — not a carrier.