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 retail manager. I worked as a retail manager before this. My old employer will not help with the premium.

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.

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