COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? after 16 years as a mechanic

The COBRA quote for my family is $1200 a month and I do not know how to afford it. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less. How did you decide?

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.