COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? - 2 weeks in

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as a line cook. I do not usually post, so bear with me. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Did anyone switch mid-year?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

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