This month's big deadline: What you need to know

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sick of hearing about the health care law?

Plenty of people have tuned out after all the political jabber and website woes.

But now is the time to tune back in, before it's too late.

The big deadline is coming March 31.

By that day, for the first time, nearly everyone in the United States is required to be signed up for health insurance or risk paying a fine.

There's a lot to know about this month's open enrollment countdown.

Most people don't need to do anything.

Even before the law was passed in 2010, more than 8 out of 10 U.S. residents had coverage, usually through their workplace plans or Medicare or Medicaid.

If you're already covered that way, you meet the law's requirements.

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