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California COBRA Cost Calculator

Calculate your COBRA continuation coverage costs in California and compare all your options. Includes California-specific mini-COBRA rules, ACA Marketplace estimates, and key deadlines.

Mini-COBRA Law

Yes — 36 months

Marketplace Type

SBM

Short-Term Plans

Not available

Avg Individual Marketplace

$550/mo

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California Mini-COBRA: Cal-COBRA covers employers with 2-19 employees for up to 36 months

Step 1 — Your Situation

Tell Us About Your Coverage Loss

Enter details about your current situation so we can calculate your COBRA costs and show you all available options in California.

Number of Employees at Company ?The total number of employees at your former employer. Federal COBRA applies to employers with 20+ employees. Smaller employers may be covered by California's state continuation laws.Source: COBRA (P.L. 99-272); California continuation coverage law

Qualifying Event ?The event that caused loss of coverage. This determines your coverage duration: 18 months for most events, 36 months for divorce, dependent aging out, or Medicare entitlement. Involuntary termination (not for gross misconduct) and voluntary termination both qualify.Source: 29 U.S.C. 1163; DOL COBRA guidance

Coverage Tier ?The level of coverage you had on your employer's plan. Family coverage is the most expensive COBRA option. You can elect a lesser tier (e.g., switch from Family to Employee Only) to reduce costs.Source: DOL COBRA FAQ; 29 CFR 2590.606

Plan Type ?Your current health plan type affects marketplace comparison. PPOs are typically more expensive; HDHPs are cheaper but require higher out-of-pocket spending. This helps us compare equivalent coverage options.Source: KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey

Step 2 — Current Plan Details

Your Employer Health Plan Costs

Enter the full cost of your employer health plan. You can find the total monthly premium on your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) or by asking HR.

Total Monthly Premium ?The TOTAL monthly premium your employer pays for your health plan (employer + employee share combined). This is NOT just your paycheck deduction — it includes the employer contribution. Find this on your SBC or benefits summary. COBRA is based on this full amount.Source: 29 U.S.C. 1162(2); DOL COBRA Model Notices

Employer Contribution 75% ?What percentage of the premium your employer pays. The national average is about 83% for single coverage and 73% for family coverage. This determines the gap between what you were paying and what COBRA costs.Source: KFF 2025 EHBS; average employer contributions

Your Current Monthly Cost

$175

What you pay from your paycheck

COBRA Monthly Cost

$714

102% of full premium

Spouse has employer plan available ?If your spouse has access to an employer-sponsored health plan, this may be a more affordable alternative to COBRA. A qualifying life event (like job loss) creates a special enrollment period for your spouse's plan.Source: 29 CFR 2590.701-6; HIPAA special enrollment rights

Step 3 — Compare Your Options

All Coverage Options Compared

See all available options side-by-side. We include COBRA, ACA Marketplace estimates for California, and other alternatives based on your situation.

COBRA Monthly Cost

$714

102% of full premium

COBRA Admin Fee: 2% surcharge permitted by law

Cheapest Alternative

Marketplace estimate

Based on California marketplace data

Potential Monthly Savings vs COBRA

$0 annual savings

Side-by-Side Cost Comparison

Option	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Duration

Key COBRA Deadlines

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California State Continuation Coverage

Cal-COBRA covers employers with 2-19 employees for up to 36 months. California has one of the strongest mini-COBRA laws (Cal-COBRA). Short-term plans are banned. Covered California is the state-based marketplace with robust plan options.

Built on Real Data — Not Guesswork

This tool is powered by federal COBRA regulations and California-specific continuation coverage laws, calibrated to 2026 market conditions.

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Federal COBRA Law

29 U.S.C. 1161-1168 (ERISA Title I, Part 6). Coverage rights, qualifying events, and 102% premium calculation.

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California Continuation Law

California-specific mini-COBRA rules, small employer coverage, and state marketplace data from SBM.

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ACA Marketplace Data

2025-2026 benchmark plan premiums from CMS and California marketplace filings. Updated for current enrollment periods.

Want a Personalized Analysis?

Get a detailed coverage options report tailored to your California situation — reviewed by a benefits advisor.

Calculation Methodology ▼

How This Calculator Works

COBRA Premium = Total Monthly Premium × 102% (the 2% admin fee is the maximum allowed by federal law)
Federal COBRA Duration: 18 months for most qualifying events; 36 months for divorce, dependent aging out, Medicare entitlement, or death of covered employee
State Continuation: California Cal-COBRA covers employers with 2-19 employees for up to 36 months
Marketplace Estimate: Based on California benchmark Silver plan premiums from CMS/state exchange data. Actual costs depend on age, income, and tobacco use
Short-Term Plans: Short-term plans are not available in California.
Coverage Tier Multipliers: EE Only = 1.0x, EE+Spouse = 2.0x, EE+Children = 1.8x, Family = 2.85x (based on KFF EHBS averages)

Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes. Actual COBRA and marketplace costs depend on your specific plan, age, income, and location. Data sources: DOL COBRA guidance, CMS marketplace data, KFF EHBS 2025, California insurance department. Calibrated to 2026 market conditions.