COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? - 8 weeks in

I just got my COBRA paperwork and the deadline to decide is close. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. 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.