Bill Advantage

COBRA Analyzer

After a job change, COBRA can look like the only option. This tool explains your continuation premium, key deadlines, and how COBRA stacks up to marketplace coverage in plain numbers and dates.

What you get

  • Explanation of what COBRA would cost you each month
  • Election period and loss-of-coverage timing in plain language
  • Comparison framing versus marketplace alternatives, informed by your current plan details if you have a plan profile saved
  • Questions to confirm with your former employer's administrator

Who this is for

Anyone leaving a job, losing employer coverage, or deciding between COBRA and a new plan during a transition.

Common situations this tool handles

  • You left your job last week and received a COBRA election notice with a 60-day window and a premium that is nearly $800 per month.
  • You are on COBRA and your 18-month continuation period ends in two months. You need to understand your options.
  • Your spouse lost their job and you are trying to decide whether to add them to your employer plan or elect COBRA for them separately.

What your analysis looks like

Sample analysis for illustration. Your output will reflect your specific document and situation.

COBRA ANALYSIS SUMMARY

Trigger event: Involuntary termination Election window: 60 days from notice date Maximum continuation: 18 months Estimated monthly premium: $847 (employer + employee share + 2% admin fee)

KEY DATES

Your coverage loss date determines when COBRA begins. You have 60 days from the later of: (1) coverage loss date, or (2) the date of the election notice to elect COBRA. If you elect COBRA, your coverage is retroactive to the day after your employer coverage ended, which means you can wait to elect and still be covered retroactively if you have a medical event during the window.

COBRA vs. MARKETPLACE COMPARISON

COBRA

$847/month, same network and benefits as your employer plan, no income-based subsidy eligibility while on COBRA.

Marketplace alternative

Based on your stated income, you may qualify for a Premium Tax Credit that could reduce your marketplace premium significantly. Losing employer coverage is a qualifying life event that opens a 60-day special enrollment window.

KEY CONSIDERATION

If you are generally healthy and expect limited healthcare use in the next few months, a marketplace Silver plan with PTC may be substantially cheaper. If you are mid-treatment with providers who are in your current network, COBRA preserves those relationships without interruption.

RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS

1. Check marketplace plan availability and subsidy estimate at healthcare.gov

2. Confirm whether your current providers are in any marketplace plan networks

3. Do not let the 60-day election window expire before deciding

[Full analysis with deadline calendar and questions for HR follows...]

See your full analysis

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Questions about this tool

If I elect COBRA late, am I really covered retroactively?

Yes. If you elect COBRA within the 60-day window and pay the first premium, your coverage is retroactive to the day after your employer coverage ended. This means a medical event during the election window would be covered if you later elect.

Can I switch from COBRA to a marketplace plan before my 18 months are up?

Yes, but only during open enrollment or a qualifying life event. Voluntarily dropping COBRA is not itself a qualifying event. Plan your transition carefully to avoid a gap in coverage.

What is the 2% administration fee and is it negotiable?

Federal law allows plan administrators to charge up to 2% on top of the full premium for administrative costs. It is not negotiable. Your COBRA premium is the full employer and employee share plus up to 2%.

How it works

  1. Upload your document. Photo or PDF of your medical bill, EOB, denial letter, or COBRA notice. No account needed to start.
  2. We review it. Bill Advantage reviews your document against healthcare billing rules, insurance regulations, and common error patterns, reflecting the knowledge of healthcare billing professionals, encoded into a system that works in minutes, not days.
  3. You get answers. Receive a plain-English explanation of exactly what happened and why. For most tools, a ready-to-send dispute or appeal letter is included. Save results to your Healthcare Finance Tracker, set reminders for follow-up deadlines, and build a complete record of your healthcare finances over time.

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