This March 1, 2014, photo shows part of the website for HealthCare.gov as photographed in Washington. Sick of hearing about the health care law? Plenty of people have tuned out after all the political jabber and website woes. Now is the time to tune back in, before it s too late. The big deadline is coming March 31. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

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.

Here's what you need to know about this month's open enrollment countdown:

___

ALREADY COVERED? NO WORRIES

Most people don't need to do anything. Even before the health care law passed in 2010, more than 8 out of 10 U.S. residents had coverage, usually through their workplace plans or the government's Medicare or Medicaid programs. Some have private policies that meet the law's requirements.

Read more:

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