Deadline Looming For Affordable Care Act Sign Up

CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's down to the wire now for people who don't yet have medical insurance. The deadline to sign up for the Affordable Care Act is midnight and those without insurance could face penalties.

A few sign up locations including the Ann Sather's Restaurant in Lakeview will remain open until the midnight deadline.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports the crowds haven't been overwhelming but for those who waited until the last minute or had other issues trying to sign up, these locations are a welcome relief.

The goal is to provide one-on-one sign-up help for those who've never enrolled before.

Considering the online fiasco when the Affordable Care Act first kicked off to continuing issues, those signing up Sunday are glad for the assistance.

"Due to complications online I was not able to complete the sign-up so it took me a while to come in to now find a location because I wasn't aware of what locations were actually signing people up, but asking numerous people I found this place," said Chicago resident Olivia Ogbara.

"We're pulling out all the stops we want consumers in Illinois to be covered, to be protected, to have that peace of mind," said outreach coordinator Charles Watkins.

So far, officials say almost 300,000 people in Illinois have signed up or renewed their coverage since last November.

After Sunday, those without insurance could face fines of $325 or two percent of the household income, whichever is greater.