First, the deadline
When job-based coverage ends, two 60-day clocks start at the same time — one to elect COBRA, one to choose a marketplace plan instead. They run in parallel, and once they close your options narrow sharply. Almost everything else can wait. This cannot.
What we actually do
We explain how coverage works after a job ends, using federal data and primary sources, and we connect you by phone with a licensed insurance agency that can quote what is available where you live. We do not sell insurance and we are not an agency. There is never a charge to you.
COBRA, explained
What it costs, how long it lasts, and the deadlines that decide everything.
COBRA or marketplace?
A real comparison — including the deductible carry-forward almost nobody mentions.
The 45-day window
You do not have to pay the moment you elect. This buys you time.
Losing coverage, by situation
Job loss, turning 26, retiring before 65, or a missed enrollment window.
Your state
Enrollment dates, which products are legal, and what coverage costs where you live.
What it actually costs
Why 2026 costs so much more, and the five things that set your price.
Cheap health insurance
The lowest premium is rarely the lowest cost. The Bronze trap, explained.
Comparing insurers
Why the brand matters far less than the specific plan in your county.
Self-employed
The deduction, the subsidy, and the circular calculation between them.
Our research
We publish the State COBRA Exposure Index — a measure of where losing employer coverage hits hardest, built from federal layoff, income and uninsured data and refreshed monthly. It is the only current state-level estimate of its kind that we are aware of, and it is free to use under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Common questions
I just lost my job. What do I do first?
Find out your two deadlines. Losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day window to elect COBRA and a separate 60-day Special Enrollment Period to choose a marketplace plan, and they run at the same time. Before you decide anything, know when those close.
Is this service free?
Yes, to you. We are compensated by the licensed insurance agency we connect callers with. That relationship is disclosed on every page of this site.
Do you sell insurance?
No. We are not an insurance company and not an insurance agency. We publish information and connect people by phone with a licensed agency that can quote and enroll.
Do you work in my state?
Licensed agents answer every call, and we serve callers nationwide. Plan availability and pricing are set by county, so what you can actually buy depends on where you live — the agent will ask for your ZIP code first.
Is there a health insurance agent near me?
You generally do not need a local one. Individual health plans are priced and sold by county, and a licensed agent can look up what is available in your county from anywhere. Calling (866) 821-1808 connects you with one.
Will you sell my information?
No. We do not sell or share caller information with multiple buyers. Calls go to a single licensed insurance agency and nowhere else.
Talk it through with a licensed agent
Which option is right depends on your state, your income and which doctors you need to keep. A licensed agent can walk through it with you in about eight minutes.
Free to call, no obligation, and we never ask you for payment. CobraScout is paid by the agency that answers, not by you. TTY 711.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, FAQs on COBRA Continuation Health Coverage for Workers
- HealthCare.gov, COBRA coverage and the Marketplace
- KFF, 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey