COBRA Cost Calculator
When you leave a job, COBRA lets you keep your employer health plan — but at the full price, because you now pay the part your employer used to cover, plus a small administration fee. This calculator estimates that monthly COBRA cost so the sticker shock doesn’t catch you off guard.
Estimate your COBRA cost
Under COBRA you pay the entire plan cost — your old payroll deduction plus the part your employer used to cover — plus a 2% admin fee.
Estimated monthly COBRA cost
$0
- Full plan cost$0
- + admin fee$0
- Over 18 months (typical max)$0
Before electing COBRA, compare it with an ACA Marketplace plan — losing job coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period, and subsidies may make Marketplace cheaper.
Formula & assumptions
COBRA lets administrators add up to a 2% fee (sometimes 150% during a disability extension). Coverage generally lasts up to 18 months, sometimes 36. Figures here are estimates, not a bill.
Why COBRA costs what it costs
While you’re employed, your health insurance cost is usually split: you pay a portion through payroll deductions, and your employer quietly covers the larger share. That’s why your paycheck deduction feels manageable. COBRA continuation coverage keeps the exact same plan, but the subsidy disappears — now you pay the entire cost yourself, plus an administration fee of up to 2%. The coverage hasn’t changed; the cost-sharing has. The calculator above reveals the real number by adding your old contribution to your employer’s and applying the fee.
The formula
COBRA’s cost is simply the full plan cost plus the allowed fee:
The administration fee is capped at 2% in most cases (it can be up to 50% — i.e., 150% of the cost — during an 11-month disability extension). You can find your employer’s contribution on a benefits statement, your HR portal, or by asking your plan administrator; it’s the number most people have never looked at.
A worked example
Say your payroll deduction was $180 a month and your employer contributed $520 a month. The full plan cost is $700. Add the standard 2% administration fee and your COBRA cost is about $714 a month — roughly four times your old deduction for the very same coverage. Over the typical 18-month maximum, that’s about $12,852. Seeing the full figure in advance is exactly why it’s worth running the numbers before you elect coverage.
Compare COBRA with the Marketplace
COBRA’s big advantage is continuity: you keep the same plan, network, deductible progress and doctors with no gap. But it’s frequently not the cheapest option. Losing job-based coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period on the ACA Marketplace, where income-based subsidies based on your now-lower income can dramatically reduce the cost — sometimes to a fraction of COBRA. The trade-offs are network and deductible: a Marketplace plan may use different doctors and reset your deductible for the year. Before deciding, get your estimated COBRA figure here, then check Marketplace plans and subsidies for your household income and compare total expected cost, not just the cost.
Timing and deadlines
You generally have 60 days to elect COBRA after your coverage ends, and electing it is retroactive to the date of loss — so some people wait, stay uninsured briefly, and only elect COBRA if they incur a big medical bill in that window. The same 60-day Special Enrollment Period applies to the Marketplace. Use that time to compare. Whatever you choose, don’t let the deadline lapse without coverage in place, and keep your plan administrator’s official COBRA notice as the authoritative figure for your cost.
Frequently asked questions
How is COBRA cost calculated?
COBRA costs the full plan cost — your old payroll deduction plus your employer’s contribution — plus an administration fee of up to 2%. So if the total plan cost is $700 a month, COBRA costs about $714. The calculator above does this from your two contribution amounts.
Why is COBRA so expensive?
Because employers typically pay a large share of the cost while you’re employed. Under COBRA you pay 100% of the cost yourself, which is why it can feel like several times your old paycheck deduction even though the coverage is identical.
How long does COBRA coverage last?
Generally up to 18 months after qualifying events like job loss or reduced hours, and up to 36 months for certain events (such as divorce or a dependent aging off the plan). A disability extension can lengthen the 18-month period.
Is COBRA cheaper than a Marketplace plan?
Often not. Losing job coverage triggers a Special Enrollment Period for the ACA Marketplace, where income-based subsidies can make a plan much cheaper than COBRA. Always compare both before electing COBRA — but check whether your doctors and deductible carry over.
Does this calculator show my exact COBRA bill?
No. It estimates the cost from the contribution amounts you enter. Your actual COBRA notice from the plan administrator is the official figure; small differences can arise from plan specifics.
Sources & references
Figures and methodology on this page are drawn from the following public sources. Insurance data changes — we note when this page was last reviewed above, and we encourage you to check the latest figures directly.
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