COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? after 16 years as a teaching assistant

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as a teaching assistant. I am in Tampa, in case local advice matters. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Is the decision time really that tight?

I priced both side by side: total yearly cost, doctors in network and the deductible. Marketplace was cheaper for us, but only because our doctors were covered.