Side-by-side · Honest verdict
Private PPO vs. COBRA
COBRA lets you keep your employer plan after leaving a job — but you pay the entire group premium plus an admin fee. For many households it's the single most expensive way to stay insured.
Step 1 of 40%
How many people in your household need health insurance coverage?
Including yourself.
COBRA
- You pay 102% of the full group premium
- Often $1,500–$2,500+/mo for families
- Temporary — typically capped at 18 months
- Zero flexibility: it's your old plan or nothing
Private PPO
- Medically underwritten — healthy applicants often pay far less
- Enroll year-round, coverage can start within days
- No 18-month clock — keep it as long as you need
- Choose the deductible and network that fit your life
Bottom line: If you're healthy and losing employer coverage, compare private rates before defaulting to COBRA — the difference is frequently hundreds of dollars a month.