State Department of Commerce and Insurance officials are cautioning uninsured Tennesseans that they may find it challenging to get health insurance if they wait after the March 31 deadline for open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act.

Insurers say one of the reasons for the deadline is to make sure people don’t wait until they get sick to purchase health insurance.

Open enrollment ends March 31, but people who have started an application but were not able to finish enrolling will be given a short amount of extra time.

People who lose job-based insurance or have other life-changing events may be able to enroll after the deadline.