Your job ends. Your next prescription refill is next week. Before you pay for the first insurance option you see, find out exactly when your employer’s health coverage stops.
For Texans losing job-based insurance, the main options to compare are a spouse’s employer plan, a Marketplace plan, and COBRA. Each has its own costs, start dates, and enrollment deadlines.
Start with your last day of coverage
Your last day at work and your last insured day may be different. Ask HR for written confirmation of the coverage end date, who in your family loses coverage, and when to expect continuation notices. Save the letter: the Marketplace may request proof.
Timing matters. A Marketplace plan may not fill a midmonth gap; HealthCare.gov explains that coverage can begin the first day of the month after job-based coverage ends. Confirm your actual start date before relying on a new plan. See HealthCare.gov’s job-loss guidance.
Compare these three options
1. A spouse’s employer plan
Ask the benefits team about adding you and any affected children. Compare the extra payroll deduction, deductible, doctors, and prescriptions. An offer of affordable employer coverage can affect eligibility for Marketplace savings, even if you prefer another plan.
2. A Marketplace plan
Losing qualifying job-based coverage can open a Special Enrollment Period. You do not necessarily have to wait for annual Open Enrollment in Texas. Compare plans using your ZIP code, household details, and expected income; do not assume the lowest monthly premium means the lowest overall cost. Review qualifying coverage losses.
3. COBRA continuation coverage
COBRA can let eligible workers keep their employer plan, typically for up to 18 months after job loss. It may be useful when keeping your care team or an existing treatment plan matters. Ask how much you must pay: the employer’s contribution may end, leaving you responsible for the full premium and an administrative charge. Read the Department of Labor’s COBRA guide.
Put the deadlines on your calendar
- Marketplace: generally, enroll within 60 days before or after losing qualifying coverage.
- A spouse’s employer plan: request special enrollment promptly; plans must generally provide at least 30 days after the coverage loss.
- COBRA: eligible people generally have at least 60 days to elect coverage, measured from the later of the coverage loss or election notice. The first payment is generally due within 45 days after election.
These are different clocks. Ask each administrator for your exact deadline and effective date, and keep confirmation of your election and payments. Sources: Marketplace enrollment periods and Department of Labor enrollment FAQs.
Do not cancel COBRA expecting an automatic switch
Outside Open Enrollment, voluntarily dropping COBRA or losing it for nonpayment generally does not create a Marketplace enrollment opportunity. Exhausting COBRA, losing an employer contribution, or still being within your original job-loss enrollment window can change the answer. Verify your eligibility and new coverage start date before canceling. Check the Marketplace’s COBRA switching rules.
Your income estimate is for the whole year
Being unemployed today does not necessarily mean entering zero income. Include applicable earnings already received, unemployment compensation, and income you reasonably expect later in the year. Update the application when your estimate changes. See what income to include.
If federal COBRA is unavailable, ask whether Texas continuation coverage applies to your plan. State continuation applies only to certain plans; self-funded employer plans are excluded. Confirm eligibility and deadlines with the administrator. Read the Texas Department of Insurance’s coverage guide.
Your next step: compare before you commit
Gather your coverage end date, continuation notice, medication list, preferred doctors, and household income estimate. Compare the monthly payment, remaining deductible, network, prescription costs, and start date together.
Contact Precise Insurance for help comparing available options in Texas. Bring the deadlines with you so you can make a decision before a coverage window closes.
Information reviewed September 28, 2026. Eligibility, benefits, and effective dates depend on your circumstances and plan rules.