Health insurance gap after a layoff - 21 weeks in

My employer coverage ended at the end of the month and I am trying to work out what to do as a customer-service rep. There are 4 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. The COBRA notice arrived with a very high price. How fast did coverage start?

Losing job-based coverage usually opens a special enrolment window, so check the deadline on the official marketplace site. I missed it by a day once and regretted it.