The difference between rates and quality from a startup to Google is staggering. I've been on both sides (as a startup CEO, and receiving COBRA from Microsoft

The difference between rates and quality from a startup to Google is staggering. I've been on both sides (as a startup CEO, and receiving COBRA from Microsoft years ago) - you get vastly more coverage for dramatically less money when you're a big company. You can get expensive, crappy health insurance as a startup, but for a lot of great candidates, quality health insurance is a hard requirement.