You just lost your job. Here's how to see all your health insurance options, not just the one HR handed you.
A plain-English guide from a physician, walking you through COBRA, the ACA marketplace, and Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California), so you can make an informed call instead of a rushed one.
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Who this is for
You were laid off, fired, or let go in the last few weeks. HR handed you a COBRA packet. You want to keep your coverage, maybe you have a family, a prescription, a condition you're managing, but you also want to know what else is on the table before you commit.
A lot of what's out there is either selling something or buried in acronyms you don't have time to decode. You want a straight answer from somebody who isn't selling you anything.
What is inside the guide
- 1How COBRA actually works: what it costs, how long it lasts, and who it's built for
- 2The ACA marketplace Special Enrollment Period: what triggers it, what closes it, and why losing your job opens a door most people don't know exists
- 3Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California): when income after a job loss may qualify you, and how it fits alongside COBRA and the marketplace
- 4Side-by-side: how to compare a COBRA premium against a marketplace plan for your situation
- 5The situations where COBRA is genuinely the right call (they exist)
- 6A one-page checklist you can fill out at your kitchen table before you sign anything
About the author
Matthew Ton-That
MD · MBA · MPH · Board-Certified Urologist
No commission. No quota. Nothing to sell you. This guide exists because the information gap around health insurance after job loss is a systems problem, and patients deserve a straight answer from someone without a financial stake in which direction you go.
Know your options before your deadlines.
Your coverage-end date and plan notices determine your enrollment deadlines. Check them promptly. Free, plain English, written by a physician with no financial interest in your decision.
Get the guide and the Navigation ConciergeNo sales call. No marketing emails.