Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Savings choosing marketplace over COBRA
$2,969
Total COBRA cost over period
$3,978
Total marketplace cost over period
$1,009
Est. marketplace premium after subsidy
$168
Estimated monthly premium tax credit
$352
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How to use this
- 1Enter cobra monthly premium (employer's full cost) ($).
- 2Enter comparable marketplace plan premium ($).
- 3Enter estimated household income this year ($).
- 4Enter household size.
- 5Enter months of coverage needed.
- 6Read your savings choosing marketplace over cobra on the right — it updates as you type.
- 7Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
After a job loss you typically have two paths to keep coverage: COBRA, which continues your exact employer plan but at the full unsubsidized premium plus a 2% admin fee, or an ACA marketplace plan, which may cost less — especially with subsidies — but usually means a different network and plan design. This calculator compares monthly cost side by side and factors in premium tax credit eligibility on the marketplace side based on estimated household income, since many people who lost employer coverage qualify for meaningful subsidies they don't realize apply mid-year. It also reminds you that COBRA can be elected retroactively within 60 days, so you don't have to decide the day you lose coverage — you can wait and see if a claim comes up before paying the COBRA premium.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- COBRA monthly premium (employer's full cost): 650 $
- Comparable marketplace plan premium: 520 $
- Estimated household income this year: 48000 $
- Household size: 2
- Months of coverage needed: 6
Results
- Savings choosing marketplace over COBRA: $2,969
- Total COBRA cost over period: $3,978
- Total marketplace cost over period: $1,009
- Est. marketplace premium after subsidy: $168
- Estimated monthly premium tax credit: $352
What each field means
Inputs
- COBRA monthly premium (employer's full cost) ($)
- The cobra monthly premium (employer's full cost) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 650 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Comparable marketplace plan premium ($)
- The comparable marketplace plan premium used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 520 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Estimated household income this year ($)
- The estimated household income this year used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 48000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Household size
- The household size used in the calculation. Starts at 2 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–10.
- Months of coverage needed
- The months of coverage needed used in the calculation. Starts at 6 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–18.
Results
- Savings choosing marketplace over COBRA
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total COBRA cost over period
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Total marketplace cost over period
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Est. marketplace premium after subsidy
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Estimated monthly premium tax credit
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Can I switch from COBRA to a marketplace plan later?
Job loss itself is a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day special enrollment window for the marketplace, but once that window closes you generally can't switch mid-year unless another qualifying event occurs. Decide within that initial 60-day window if marketplace subsidies make it the better option.
Does losing job-based coverage always qualify me for marketplace subsidies?
Yes, loss of employer coverage is a qualifying event for special enrollment regardless of when in the year it happens, and your subsidy eligibility is based on your estimated income for the whole year, not just post-job-loss income, so update your marketplace application with a realistic reduced-income estimate.
Why keep COBRA at all if marketplace is cheaper?
COBRA keeps your exact same doctors, hospital network, and deductible accumulation — if you're mid-treatment or have already paid toward your deductible this year, switching plans can reset that progress. For anyone with an ongoing treatment plan, network continuity can outweigh a premium difference.
How is the premium tax credit actually calculated?
It's based on the difference between the cost of the second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area and a sliding-scale percentage of your household income (roughly 2-8.5% depending on income relative to the federal poverty level), not simply a percentage of whatever plan you pick. This calculator estimates it; get an exact figure from healthcare.gov or your state exchange.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). COBRA vs Marketplace Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cobra-vs-marketplace-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cobra-vs-marketplace-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COBRA vs Marketplace Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [COBRA vs Marketplace Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cobra-vs-marketplace-cost) (2026).