LANSING — While January 2016 marks the start of a new year, it also marks the end of the third open enrollment season.

The health insurance marketplace will be closing January 31, which means that people who are still uninsured have approximately three weeks left to enroll in health coverage before the final deadline.

Although millions of people have signed up for health insurance — in December alone, approximately 6 million people selected a health plan through Healthcare.gov, according to CNBC.com — there are still millions who remain uninsured. This includes people whose incomes aren’t low enough to be eligible for lower healthcare costs.

However, after the Jan. 31 deadline, those who are not enrolled in health coverage will be required to pay the highest of the following two penalties:

• 2.5 percent of their yearly household income, or

• $695 per individual in the household ($347.50 per child under 18).

People who have not yet enrolled in health coverage due to financial conflicts may be eligible for assistance.

For more help and information on how to receive local assistance, visit www.enrollmichigan.org or contact our main office at (517) 367-7293.