Is COBRA worth it after a layoff? after 11 years as a retail manager

The COBRA quote for my family is $250 a month and I do not know how to afford it. I am in St. Louis, in case local advice matters. My spouse has a chronic condition, so dropping coverage feels risky. Is the decision time really that tight?

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

Check what the notice says about the election period and when coverage starts. Mine allowed a short window to choose.