Employer based vs marketplace on maternity leave in Oregon

I am pregnant and planning on going on (unpaid, sigh) maternity leave by 1/15, with expected return date on or around 5/1. I work as a private practice therapist (I am a W-2 employee, receive some benefits, but entirely make up my own schedule and hours), who offers employer based insurance that covers only me (though I can and do pay for my husband through that plan as well).

I receive said benefits by seeing 21 or more clients a week, which is calculated per quarter (so even if I see 20 one week and 22 another, it works as long as the average is 21 weekly). I anticipate not getting back to that number until May.

My employer says I can stay on the plan at the same rates but I will pay for it myself. However, I have the higher income between my husband and I, and it will drop significantly when I am out. It seems that marketplace would make more sense.

Can someone confirm that I am correct in saying that it makes most sense to get a marketplace plan?

Based on my husband’s 33k income we are eligible for a tax credit up to $908 according to checkbookhealth.com.

It seems we do not have that eligibility if I go through my employer.

When I return to my usual number of hours, my portion of the insurance would be paid again, and I would plan to return to their plan.

Is this correct? I know you aren’t typically eligible for a tax credit if you have coverage from an employer, but I wonder if that is if any insurance is offered, or only when it’s paid?

Thanks!