COBRA Premium Calculator

Under federal COBRA rules, your premium can be up to 102 percent of the full cost of the plan, which is the employee share plus the employer share, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. During an 11-month disability extension, the premium can rise to 150 percent of the full cost. This calculator applies the administrative percentage you choose to the total plan cost.

While employed, your employer typically paid a large share of the premium. Under COBRA you pay the entire premium (both the former employee and employer shares) plus the administrative fee. That is why COBRA can feel dramatically more expensive than the payroll deduction you were used to.

Standard COBRA continuation coverage lasts up to 18 months after a qualifying event such as job loss or reduced hours. Certain events, like disability or a second qualifying event, can extend coverage to 29 or 36 months. Enter the number of months you expect to keep coverage to see the total cost.

The full cost is the total premium the plan charges, combining the portion the employee paid through payroll and the portion the employer contributed. Your COBRA election notice or your former employer's benefits administrator can tell you the full monthly cost for your coverage tier.

Employers may charge up to a 2 percent administrative fee on standard COBRA coverage, but they are not required to charge the full amount. The 150 percent cap applies only during a disability extension. Enter the actual administrative percentage your plan uses, defaulting to 2 percent for standard coverage.