The deadline to sign up for health coverage under Covered California is approaching quickly.

Californians who sign up by January 15th will be covered starting February 1st, and those who sign up by the deadline January 31st will be covered starting March 1st.

Executive Director of Covered California, Peter Lee, said right now 30,000 people are uninsured in Bakersfield.

If those people miss the January 31st deadline, they will have to pay a steep fine.

"The smallest penalty is 700 dollars a year, that's almost 60 dollars a month," Lee said. Along with paying a penalty, you will not be able to sign up until 2017.

The penalty serves two purposes, to entice customers to sign up and to offset how much other Californians will be paying for the uninsured.

Covered California is the hub where anyone can go and look for health coverage. Online they have step by step instructions on how to get healthcare. You can also call 1-800-300-1506 or stop in at several local store fronts.