Health insurance gap after a layoff - any advice?

My employer coverage ended at the end of the month and I am trying to work out what to do as a graphic designer. I do not usually post, so bear with me. I do not want a gap in coverage. How fast did coverage start?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 4 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.