Editorial standards & accuracy policy
CobraCalc helps people make a real money decision about health coverage, so we hold the tool and the writing to clear standards. This page explains how we source our numbers, how often we review them, who stands behind the work, and how to flag a mistake.
We are independent
CobraCalc is not owned by, or paid by, an insurance company, a broker, or the government. No partner can pay to change a result or a recommendation. If we add clearly-labeled affiliate links or ads, they are kept separate from the calculator's math and never affect which option the tool says is cheaper. We will never sell the information you enter. See our disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.
The experience behind it
CobraCalc is built and maintained by someone with a professional background in healthcare and insurance who is going through the early-retirement coverage decision firsthand — running the same COBRA-versus-Marketplace math this tool runs. That mix of industry background and lived experience is why the tool focuses on the real-world traps, like the 400% subsidy cliff. Read more on the About page. We are not a substitute for a licensed professional — see Not advice below.
Where our numbers come from
Every figure in the calculator traces to a public, official source — never a guess:
- Federal Poverty Levels — U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
- Subsidy (premium-tax-credit) percentages — the IRS yearly revenue procedure.
- Age-rating curve — the CMS default age factors.
- Benchmark Silver premium — national-average data (KFF).
The full list — with links to each source and the exact formulas — is on our Sources & methodology page. We want you to be able to check our work.
How often we review
- Every year: when the new IRS revenue procedure and HHS poverty guidelines are published, we update the calculator and the pages together.
- When the law changes: if Congress changes the subsidy rules or the income cliff mid-year, we update as soon as the change becomes law.
- Dated pages: every page shows a "last reviewed" date so you can see how current it is.
How we handle corrections
If a number looks wrong, please tell us — we want to know. Email support@cobracalc.com. We check every reported error against the official source, fix confirmed mistakes promptly, and update the "last reviewed" date when we do.
How the tool is built
The calculator runs entirely in your browser. The numbers you enter — your income, your COBRA price — never leave your device, and nothing is sent to a server or stored. We use privacy-friendly analytics to count page visits only.
This is not advice
CobraCalc gives an educational estimate to help you plan. It is not insurance, legal, or tax advice, and it is not a real quote. Before a big decision, confirm your exact situation with a licensed insurance agent or a tax professional, and with HealthCare.gov or your state exchange. See the full disclaimer.