2026 law: The enhanced ACA subsidies that were in effect 2021–2025 have expired. The original income-based sliding scale is in effect for 2026 — including the 400%-of-poverty income cliff. This calculator reflects current law. See your coverage options →
Your year-by-year comparison
The colored dot next to each year's “% of poverty” shows your subsidy status that year.
COBRA and subsidy rules are the same nationwide; only the Marketplace premium varies by state and county.
Your results will appear here
Fill in your details on the left and press Calculate my comparison. You'll get your COBRA cost, the Marketplace price after any subsidy, and which option wins — for every year until Medicare.
🔒 Nothing you enter is sent anywhere — all math runs in your browser.
COBRA only lasts 18 months after you leave a job, so it shows for the first year and a half. After that, your choice is a Marketplace plan or no coverage.
Example: single person, retires at 60 in 2026
Income $50,000 a year, COBRA quoted at $900/month. Using 2026 rules, this person's income is about 320% of the poverty line, so they qualify for help on a Marketplace plan:
| Option (year 1, age 60) | Cost for the year |
|---|---|
| COBRA (full price, $900 × 12) | $10,800 |
| Marketplace — full price | $17,212 |
| Marketplace — after subsidy (what you pay) | $4,980 |
In this example a subsidized Marketplace plan (about $4,980) is far cheaper than COBRA (about $10,800). COBRA tends to win only in a year your income is too high for any subsidy. The full-price figures are national-average estimates, benchmarked to KFF's 2026 marketplace premium data. Your real price depends on your state, age, household size, and income. Run the calculator for your own numbers.
Learn more
- Solo Early Retiree Health Insurance — the full guide
- Health insurance before 65 — official resources
- Medicare basics & enrollment windows
- Browse the retirement planning shop
Last reviewed June 15, 2026
Common questions
Is COBRA worth it for early retirees?
Usually only when your income is too high for any Marketplace subsidy, or as a short bridge to keep your exact plan and doctors. Otherwise a subsidized Marketplace plan is typically cheaper.
How much is health insurance if you retire at 55, 60, or 62?
It depends on your state, age, household size, and income. Premiums rise as you get older, and retiring younger means more years to cover before Medicare — about 10 years at 55, 5 at 60, and 3 at 62.
What is the 2026 Marketplace subsidy cliff?
In 2026, if your income is above 4 times the federal poverty line — about $62,600 for a single person — your subsidy drops to $0. One extra dollar of income can cost you thousands, so the calculator warns you near this line.
When does the COBRA-vs-Marketplace decision end?
At age 65, when Medicare begins. That is why the calculator runs each year only up to 65.