Whether your COBRA is running out, you're between jobs, or you just left an employer plan, a gap in coverage is the last thing you need. The good news: losing coverage is usually a qualifying life event, which means you don't have to wait for open enrollment to get insured again.
COBRA lets you keep your old plan — but you pay the full premium with no employer contribution, which is often shockingly expensive. For a lot of healthy people, a private plan offers comparable flexibility for meaningfully less.
The sticker shock is real: the same plan that felt affordable through work can more than double once your employer stops chipping in. Before you auto-enroll in COBRA, it's worth seeing what else is on the table.
There's no single right answer — it usually comes down to four things, and I'll walk you through all of them:
I move quickly. Tell me when your coverage ends and I'll compare private options that can bridge the gap so you're never left uninsured. Many can be enrolled outside open enrollment, and I handle the details so you can focus on the transition.
Just lost job-based coverage? See your special enrollment window & options → · In Florida? Read the COBRA alternatives in Florida guide → or run the free estimator →
Losing coverage often opens a special window to enroll — so you may not have to wait for the usual open-enrollment season.
For many healthy people, a private plan can offer comparable flexibility for meaningfully less than full-price COBRA.
When your coverage is ending soon, I respond quickly so you're never stuck making a big decision under pressure.
Your plan isn't tied to a former employer — it moves with you into whatever comes next.
COBRA lets you keep your old plan, but you pay the full premium — often a shock. A private under-65 plan or an ACA marketplace plan is frequently cheaper for similar coverage. I'll compare COBRA against your other options so you're not overpaying out of habit.
Losing job-based coverage triggers a special enrollment window, and many private plans can start fast. Tell me your last-covered date and I'll move quickly so you don't end up with a gap.
A private plan is often cheaper — with COBRA you pay 100% of the premium plus an admin fee, while an individual plan is priced for you. But not always, so I run the actual numbers both ways before you decide.
Early retirees are one of the groups I help most. Until you reach Medicare at 65, I'll find you a private or marketplace plan to bridge the gap — built around your doctors and budget, not a former employer's.
Coverage can often start quickly — many plans can take effect the first of the month after you apply, sometimes sooner. The key is not waiting, so reach out before your current coverage ends.
There's no federal penalty for a short gap now, so a brief lapse won't fine you — but it can still leave you exposed if something unexpected happens, and it can complicate timing when you re-enroll. Because losing job-based coverage opens a special enrollment window, you can usually avoid a gap entirely. I'll help you bridge it so you're not rolling the dice.
Buying your own coverage as a freelancer, contractor, or solo business owner.
Explore self-employed →Buying your own coverage for your household instead of through a job.
Explore family coverage →Covering yourself as the owner or a small team without enterprise cost.
Explore group coverage →Tell me when your coverage ends and I'll move fast to line up what's next.