COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? - what worked for you?

The COBRA quote for my family is $1100 a month and I do not know how to afford it. There are 11 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Did anyone switch mid-year?

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.

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