When you lose your job, your employer cuts your insurance off. When you elect COBRA, you’ll get coverage retroactively. However, ACA exchanges are way cheaper than COBRA.
Loss of employment gets you into the special enrollment period, but failing to pay COBRA doesn’t. You can choose between COBRA and ACA at the end of your employment, but you’re stuck with your choice.
If you elect COBRA because you have medical expenses you need covered retroactively, or because your employer is paying a month or more of it, you’re stuck with it for 7 months (next open enrollment).
If you elect ACA you’ll have a gap in coverage. You lost your insurance when you lost your job.
Please let employees elect COBRA and then transition to ObamaCare. Please close the gap.