COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? (update)

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as an electrician's helper. My old employer will not help with the premium. How did you decide?

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

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.