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60-day window: You have 60 days from losing employer coverage to enroll in an ACA Special Enrollment Period plan. Don't let it lapse — a coverage gap can mean paying COBRA retroactively.
COBRA costs ~$859/month for individual coverage in Florida — 3–4x what you paid as an employee. Private PPO plans start at $266/month. ACA SEP plans can be $0–$150/month with subsidies. Philip compares every option within your 60-day window at no cost.
$859/mo avg individual
COBRA (employer plan continuation)
Full employer premium + 2% admin
$0–$150/mo
ACA Marketplace (with subsidy)
Income-based — if you qualify
$266–$400/mo
Private PPO (medically underwritten)
Healthy adults, above subsidy threshold
$150–$300/mo
TriTerm Medical (UHC)
Healthy adults, Florida-exclusive
Costs are estimates for a single 40-year-old in Florida. Actual cost depends on age, income, ZIP code, and health status. Philip provides exact quotes for your situation.
When you were employed, your employer was likely covering 50–80% of your health insurance premium. COBRA continuation coverage means you now pay 100% of that full premium — plus a 2% administrative fee. The shock is not that your plan changed. It's that you're now seeing what the plan actually costs without the employer subsidy.
The good news is that the individual market has plans that are often significantly cheaper than employer group plans for healthy individuals. Employer group plans are priced to cover the entire workforce — including older employees and those with chronic conditions. A young, healthy person buying individual coverage is often getting a better deal than their employer's group rate.
The key decision factor is your income and health. Philip assesses both in the first 5 minutes of a call and gives you a clear recommendation.
When COBRA actually makes sense:
In all other cases, a private or ACA alternative is almost always cheaper.
Confirm your last day of employer coverage. Note your income going forward — this determines whether you qualify for ACA subsidies. Review your current doctors and any ongoing prescriptions.
Book a free call with Philip. He'll compare ACA SEP plans vs. private plans vs. TriTerm for your age, income, health, and doctors — and tell you which option saves the most money without sacrificing coverage.
For ACA SEP: enroll at healthcare.gov within 60 days of job loss. For private or TriTerm: apply directly — coverage can start within days. Don't wait until day 59 of your 60-day window.
COBRA lasts up to 18 months. Most people never need it this long. Compare your ongoing plan at each annual renewal — private and ACA plans change every year.
Job loss = qualifying life event. 60 days to enroll. Income-based subsidies may bring premium to $0.
For healthy adults above the subsidy threshold. Starts $266/month. No enrollment window. Coverage in days.
Florida-only. Up to 36 months on UHC PPO network. No qualifying event required. Starts within 5 days.
COBRA requires you to pay the full employer premium plus a 2% administrative fee — the amount your employer was paying on your behalf plus what you were contributing. For most Florida employees, this means COBRA costs $700–$1,100/month for individual coverage and $2,000–$2,800/month for a family. The average COBRA cost for individual coverage in Florida is approximately $859/month, compared to what employees typically paid as their share: $100–$250/month before job loss.
Florida has several strong COBRA alternatives: (1) ACA marketplace Special Enrollment Period — job loss is a qualifying life event giving you 60 days to enroll in an ACA plan. If your income qualifies, subsidies can bring your premium to $0–$150/month. (2) Private medically-underwritten PPO — for healthy adults above the subsidy threshold, private plans typically cost $266–$400/month, compared to $700–$900+ for COBRA. (3) TriTerm medical insurance — available year-round in Florida, covers up to 36 months on the UnitedHealthcare PPO network. Coverage starts within 5 days. A licensed agent compares all three at no cost.
You have 60 days from the date you lose employer coverage to elect COBRA or enroll in an ACA Marketplace Special Enrollment Period plan. For private plans and TriTerm, there's no 60-day window — you can apply any time. However, there is a risk of a coverage gap if you wait too long without other coverage. Philip recommends comparing your options within the first 1–2 weeks of job loss so coverage can be in place before the 60-day window closes.
Rarely. COBRA is the most expensive option for most Floridians and only makes sense in specific situations: if you're mid-treatment with a specialist at an expensive hospital that's only in your employer network, if you've already met a large portion of your deductible for the year, or if you have a pre-existing condition that would make private underwriting difficult. In the vast majority of cases, an ACA Special Enrollment Period plan or a private plan will cost significantly less and offer comparable coverage. Philip will tell you honestly whether COBRA makes sense for your specific situation.
Not the same day, but close. Private medically-underwritten plans and TriTerm can begin within 5 days of approval. ACA marketplace plans have effective date rules — if you enroll in a plan by the 15th of the month, coverage begins the 1st of the following month. You can elect COBRA retroactively within the 60-day window, which means if you have a medical expense, you can pay back premiums to activate coverage retroactively — but you'll owe all months of premium back to your job loss date.
Philip Smith · Licensed Florida Insurance Agent
NPN #22255420 · FL Lic. #G349232 · Philip compares COBRA against ACA SEP plans, private PPOs, and TriTerm — and tells you exactly which option costs least without sacrificing coverage. Free consultation. Same-day callbacks available.
Philip compares specific PPO, HMO, and EPO plans from 22+ carriers based on your doctors, budget, and ZIP code — in one free call.
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