COBRA costs more than my rent, what did you do? (update)

The COBRA quote for my family is $1000 a month and I do not know how to afford it. I worked as a quality inspector before this. I saw that marketplace plans might cost less. Did anyone switch mid-year?

A quick call to the plan's member line cleared up two things for us that the letter did not.

Check what the notice says about the election period and when coverage starts. Mine allowed a short window to choose.