COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? (update)

I just got my COBRA paperwork and the deadline to decide is close. I worked as a payroll clerk before this. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Is the decision time really that tight?

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

If you have a planned treatment, COBRA can make sense for a few months. Otherwise look at the marketplace first.