COBRA Health Insurance: Costs, Timelines, and Your Alternatives Explained

COBRA is one of the first options people hear about when they leave a job… and one of the most misunderstood.In this episode of Straight Health Insurance Talk, we break down exactly how COBRA works, what it actually costs, and when it makes sense to keep it versus moving to another option.We walk through timelines, retroactive coverage, how it interacts with Medicare, and the real decision points you need to understand if you are retiring or changing jobs.If you are trying to bridge the gap between employer coverage and your next move, this episode gives you the clarity to do it right.What we cover:• What COBRA health insurance is and how it works• What your real monthly cost will be• Whether your deductible and out-of-pocket reset• COBRA timelines and enrollment windows• How retroactive COBRA coverage works• Whether you have to keep COBRA for the full 18 months• When COBRA makes sense before Medicare• How to think about coverage if your spouse is on a different timeline• Your options if your spouse moves onto Medicare first• Whether you can keep dental and vision only• Using your HSA to pay COBRA premiums• COBRA vs ACA Marketplace for retirement decisionsCOBRA is not always the best option… but sometimes it is.This episode helps you understand the difference.