Private PPO vs. COBRA Coverage
COBRA's appeal is that nothing changes: same plan, same doctors, same card. Its problem is the price. Your employer was paying most of that premium, and COBRA hands you the whole bill plus an administrative fee.
- Pre-existing conditions covered
- Enroll any day of the year
- A licensed advisor, no pressure
- No cost to talk it through
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Start with your state.
Plans from nationally recognized carriers
Carriers include UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Anthem, Allstate Health, Oscar.
What a private PPO can do that most plans can't.
Pre-existing conditions covered
An advisor tells you straight which plans will take your health history.
Enroll any day of the year
No six-week window. Coverage can start when you need it to.
Broad nationwide PPO networks
Keep your own doctor in most cases and stay covered across state lines.
Never sold to third parties
Your details stay with us and are never resold.
COBRA
What it does well
- Identical plan, network and deductible you already had
- Any deductible you've already met in the plan year carries over
- No medical underwriting — coverage is guaranteed
- Good bridge if you're mid-treatment and can't change plans
Where it falls short
- You pay the full premium plus up to 2% admin — often $600–$1,800/mo
- Time-limited, usually 18 months
- You have a short window to elect it and it's easy to miss
- Costs the same whether you use it or not
Private PPO
What it does well
- Typically a fraction of a COBRA premium
- No 18-month cliff — it's your own coverage
- Broad nationwide PPO networks
- Start any day; no election deadline to miss
Where it falls short
- Underwritten, so approval isn't guaranteed
- A new plan means a new deductible — anything you've met is lost
- You may need to confirm your specific doctors are in network
For most healthy people leaving a job, a private PPO costs dramatically less than COBRA for comparable access. The exception is real and important: if you're mid-treatment, or you've already burned through your deductible this year, COBRA's continuity can be worth every dollar.
When the other option wins
You're in active treatment, you've met most of your deductible, or you need guaranteed acceptance. Elect COBRA — the math and the medicine both favor it.
COBRA and a private PPO, row by row.
- Monthly premiumCOBRA:Full cost plus up to 2% adminPrivate PPO:Priced for you, often lower
- Your doctorsCOBRA:Same network you hadPrivate PPO:Broad PPO; confirm your doctors
- Deductible progressCOBRA:Kept for the plan yearPrivate PPO:Starts again at zero
- ApprovalCOBRA:Guaranteed if you elect on timePrivate PPO:Medically underwritten
- How long it lastsCOBRA:Usually 18 monthsPrivate PPO:Renews on the plan's terms
- DeadlineCOBRA:60 days to electPrivate PPO:Apply any day
The honest answers.
Can I elect COBRA later if the private plan falls through?
Usually yes, if you are still inside the 60-day election window. COBRA elected in that window is backdated to the day your old coverage ended, which is why many people apply for a private plan first and keep COBRA as the backup.
Why is COBRA so expensive?
Your employer was paying most of the premium. Under COBRA you pay the whole premium yourself, plus an administrative fee of up to 2%.
I'm mid-treatment. Should I switch?
Usually not. Keeping the same plan, network and deductible progress during treatment is worth a lot, and that continuity is exactly what COBRA is for.
COBRA is best if
- You're in active treatment
- You've already met most of this year's deductible
- You need guaranteed acceptance
A private PPO is best if
- You're healthy and COBRA costs are hard to justify
- You need coverage for longer than 18 months
- You want a premium set for you, not for your old employer group
Everything above is general information, not advice about your situation and not a quote. Plan availability, pricing and underwriting vary by state and carrier.
Three steps, and you're never locked in.
- 01
Tell us the basics
State, household, pre-existing conditions and timing. About thirty seconds — no SSN, no date of birth.
- 02
A licensed advisor reaches out
Real options, real costs and the honest trade-offs, in plain English.
- 03
You decide
Enroll if it fits, or don't. No cost to talk and no obligation at any point.
See what you actually qualify for.
Four questions, a licensed advisor, a straight answer. No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
Secure & private. By submitting you agree to be contacted by a licensed advisor.
Year-round enrollment
Private PPO plans are not tied to open enrollment.
Never sold
Your details are not passed to a lead list.
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Your details are protected from the first click.
No cost, no obligation
Talking it through is free. You decide.
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