Health insurance gap after a layoff - what worked for you?

My employer coverage ended at the end of the month and I am trying to work out what to do as a line cook. Any experience at all would help. I think my income this year might qualify for a subsidy. Is there help filling out the forms?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 5 months ago, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.