COBRA Cost: $500 Employee Share, $1,000 Employer Share for 12 Months
With a $500 employee share and $1,000 employer share, your monthly COBRA premium will be approximately $1,530 including the admin fee.
How to use this tool
- Enter the monthly premium you currently pay from your paycheck.
- Enter the share your employer currently pays toward the same coverage.
- Keep the admin fee at 2% (the legal maximum) unless your notice says otherwise.
- Set how many months you expect to stay on COBRA to see the total cost.
Calculate your COBRA cost for 12 months when your employer currently covers $1,000 of your health insurance premium.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is COBRA so much more expensive than my paycheck deduction?
- Because you now pay the full group premium. Employers typically cover the majority of the cost; under COBRA you pick up that share too, plus up to a 2% administrative fee.
- How long can I keep COBRA coverage?
- Usually up to 18 months after a job loss or hours reduction, with possible extensions to 29 or 36 months for disability or certain dependent qualifying events.
- Is COBRA my only option after leaving a job?
- No. Losing job-based coverage triggers a Marketplace special enrollment period, and a subsidized Marketplace plan is frequently cheaper than unsubsidized COBRA. Compare both before electing.