COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? (Seattle)

The COBRA quote for my family is $850 a month and I do not know how to afford it. This is my first time dealing with any of this. My old employer will not help with the premium. Is the decision time really that tight?

A quick call to the plan's member line cleared up two things for us that the letter did not.

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.