COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? - 22 weeks in

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as a welding apprentice. It has been weighing on me all week. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less.

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.

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