COBRA and the Health Insurance Marketplace
When you leave a job for any reason, you may be able to keep your job-based health coverage for a period, usually up to 18 months. This is called COBRA continuation coverage.
With COBRA coverage, you usually have to pay the entire monthly premium yourself, plus a small administrative fee. Your former employer no longer pays any of your insurance costs.
COBRA continuation coverage qualifies as minimum essential coverage. This means if you have COBRA coverage you don’t have the pay the fee that people without coverage must pay.
Coverage and savings options if you have COBRA
If you have COBRA, your coverage and savings options depend on 2 things:
If you’re changing from COBRA to a Marketplace plan during an Open Enrollment period
If you’re dropping your COBRA coverage before it runs out