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Private PPO Plans vs. COBRA Continuation
COBRA lets you keep the exact plan you had at work — at the exact price your employer was quietly paying, plus a little more.
When you leave a job, COBRA offers to continue your employer plan for up to 18 months (sometimes 36). Same network, same deductible progress, same everything — except now you pay the entire premium yourself, plus up to a 2% administrative fee.
For a family, that routinely rivals a mortgage payment. COBRA makes real sense in a few situations: you're mid-treatment, you've already met your deductible for the year, or you only need a short bridge. Outside of those, it's usually the most expensive way to stay insured.
| What matters | COBRA Continuation | Private PPO (underwritten) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | The full group premium plus up to 2% admin fee — sticker shock is the norm | Individually priced; healthy families often pay a fraction of COBRA |
| Doctor & hospital choice | Your existing employer network — familiar, but unchanged | Nationwide PPO networks with broad specialist access |
| Deductible progress | Carries over — valuable if you've already met it this year | Starts fresh, like any new plan |
| How long it lasts | 18–36 months, then it simply ends | No built-in expiration tied to a former job |
| Enrollment deadline | 60 days from your qualifying event to elect | Any month of the year |
| Health questions | None — it's your old plan continued | Medical underwriting applies; not everyone is approved |
The honest verdict
Use COBRA as a bridge when your deductible progress or ongoing treatment makes it worth the price. Otherwise, most healthy households leaving a job can replace it for meaningfully less with more network freedom.
Bring us your COBRA election notice before the 60-day window closes — an advisor will compare it against private options line by line, at no cost.
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