COBRA Cost Calculator
Find what COBRA will cost: the full premium plus 2%, how much more than you paid as an employee, the total for 18, 29 or 36 months and when it rises to 150%.
You have 60 days to elect COBRA and 45 days after that for the first payment; coverage is retroactive. Losing job-based coverage also opens a special enrollment period on the ACA marketplace, where you may get a subsidy.
What it does
COBRA lets you keep your employer's health plan after leaving the job, but you pay the whole premium yourself: your old share, the part the employer paid and a 2% fee. The calculator shows the monthly cost, how it compares with what you paid as an employee and the total for the months you need, including the 150% rate during a disability extension.
How to use it
- Type the total monthly premium of your plan (ask HR or see the COBRA notice) and what you paid.
- Choose the reason for COBRA and how many months you need it.
- See the monthly premium, how much more you pay and the total.
The arithmetic runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere and nothing is stored, so you can use these with real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does COBRA cost?
Up to 102% of the full premium. A family plan of 2,000 a month costs 2,040 on COBRA, 3.4 times the 600 you paid as an employee.
How long does COBRA last?
18 months after a job loss or reduced hours, 29 with a disability extension (months 19 to 29 can cost 150%) and 36 for dependents after a divorce, the employee's death or Medicare.
Is COBRA worth it?
For 18 months the plan above costs 36,720, which is 25,920 more than as an employee. Compare it with an ACA marketplace plan, where your income may bring a subsidy; COBRA keeps your doctors and the deductible you already met.
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