COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives?

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as a logistics coordinator. There are 17 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less. How did you decide?

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

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