LAS VEGAS - The deadline to sign up for health care insurance and avoid hefty fines approaches. Nevadans have until December 15 to enroll.

As of December 5, 10,198 people have enrolled through Nevada Health Link. Those who miss Monday's deadline will not only lack insurance on January 1, 2015, but they will also face a fine of $325 or 2 percent of their income whichever is higher.

Open enrollment runs through February 15th, but December 15th is the last day to sign up and qualify for subsidies, as well as dodge any fines.

This also applies to people who signed up for coverage during the first open enrollment period last year. If they fail to re-apply, their health care provider will automatically re-enroll them, however, they will lose any subsidies. That means their premiums will increase.

Last year, the website where people can enroll experienced numerous technological glitches. This year, NevadaHealthLink.com seems to be running smoother.

"The system is working dramatically better this year than it was during the first phase of open enrollment, said Andres Ramirez with the Ramirez Group, Health Care Navigators. We are completing applications much quicker than we did before, and there's obviously less glitches through the application process."

Ramirez says Nevadans are enrolling at a faster pace than last time. During the first enrollment period, 37,000 people signed up.

If you need help signing up, a Nevada Health Link store is open seven days a week at the Boulevard Mall.

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Health care enrollment deadline approaches