COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? - 9 months and counting

I just got my COBRA paperwork and the deadline to decide is close. This is my first time dealing with any of this. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Is the decision time really that tight?

Check what the notice says about the election period and when coverage starts. Mine allowed a short window to choose.

Keep everything in writing and save the confirmation numbers. It made the follow-up calls so much easier.