BALTIMORE A health care enrollment fair on Saturday drew hundreds of Maryland residents who lined up and waited to beat Mondays midnight deadline to enroll in a health care plan.

People said they generally waited about an hour at the Baltimore Convention Center before sitting down with a navigator to help guide them through the process. Several said it then took between 15 and 30 minutes to enroll.

LaVerne Henson, a 49-year-old Baltimore resident who hasnt had health insurance since 2009, said she decided to take advantage of the in-person help after trying six frustrating times to enroll herself through the states troubled online exchange website.

Coming here, we had no problem, Henson said. We went straight through it in less than 20 minutes.

Amber LeSane, 33, said she had had trouble understanding how different health care plans worked when she used the website, and she wanted to meet with someone to get more information about deductions and tax credits. After waiting an hour to see a navigator, LeSane said she enrolled in a plan in 30 minutes.

It was actually pretty good, LeSane, of Randallstown, said. The wait time wasnt as long as I expected, and the navigator was very friendly, very helpful, so it was overall a good experience.

Organizers reported a steady stream of people attending.

Very easily well see 500 today, said Kathleen Westcoat, CEO of HealthCare Access Maryland.

U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, spoke to a roomful of people who were sitting down with 33 navigators. He implored them to tell friends and neighbors who dont have health insurance to enroll by the deadline.

I am not asking you to talk to them. I am begging you to, Cummings said.

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State health care enrollment fair draws hundreds