Open enrollment ending for Obamacare

If you have not signed up for some type of private health insurance or Obamacare, time is running out.

The open enrollment period to sign up for Obamacare will end Sunday, January 31st. Open enrollment began on November 1st.

That time frame is the yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan.

There are several circumstances where people can enroll outside that period. For example this would be cases of getting married, having a baby, or losing other coverage.

If you can afford health insurance but choose not to buy it, you will have to pay a fee called an "individual shared responsibility payment."

This payment happens when federal tax returns are filed for the year without coverage. It is calculated as a household income percentage or per person. Whichever is higher, is what you will have to pay.

There are different locations where you can get help in signing up for insurance. For a location near you, use the link to search by zip code.