Your year-by-year comparison
The colored dot next to each year's “% of poverty” shows your subsidy status that year.
Marketplace costs use a national-average Silver premium, not your state's actual rates — real prices vary by state and county. For an accurate number, enter your local quote in Monthly marketplace premium (under Assumptions). COBRA and subsidy rules are the same nationwide.
COBRA vs net Marketplace cost by year
What you'll see
Fill in your details on the left and press Calculate my comparison. You'll find out if you qualify for help paying (a subsidy), and see a cost for every year until Medicare — what COBRA would cost, what a Marketplace plan (Obamacare) would cost after any help, and which one is cheaper.
COBRA only lasts 18 months after you leave a job, so it shows for the first year and a half. After that, your choice is a Marketplace plan or no coverage.
Example: single person, retires at 60 in 2026
Income $50,000 a year, COBRA quoted at $900/month. Using 2026 rules, this person's income is about 320% of the poverty line, so they qualify for help on a Marketplace plan:
| Option (year 1, age 60) | Cost for the year |
|---|---|
| COBRA (full price, $900 × 12) | $10,800 |
| Marketplace — full price | $17,212 |
| Marketplace — after subsidy (what you pay) | $4,980 |
In this example a subsidized Marketplace plan (about $4,980) is far cheaper than COBRA (about $10,800). COBRA tends to win only in a year your income is too high for any subsidy. These are national-average estimates. Your real price depends on your state, age, household size, and income. Run the calculator for your own numbers.
Popular guides
- Is COBRA worth it?
- COBRA vs Obamacare: which is cheaper?
- The 2026 ACA subsidy cliff explained
- Health insurance cost if you retire at 55, 60, or 62
- How CobraCalc works · Sources & methodology
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