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

The COBRA quote for my family is $1150 a month and I do not know how to afford it. I am in Memphis, in case local advice matters. My old employer will not help with the premium.

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

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.