COBRA quote is huge, any alternatives? - what worked for you?

I was offered COBRA and the monthly cost is more than I expected as a dental hygienist. This is my first time dealing with any of this. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less. Did anyone switch mid-year?

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

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