COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? after 18 years as a software tester

The COBRA quote for my family is $400 a month and I do not know how to afford it. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Is the decision time really that tight?

If you have a planned treatment, COBRA can make sense for a few months. Otherwise look at the marketplace first.

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