LANSING - Michigan experienced a higher enrollment in health insurance coverage in 2015, with a 26% increase than last year through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Open Enrollment Period for people to shop for health coverage ended on Feb. 15. According to the Department of Insurance and Financial Services, more than 340,000 Michigan residents have enrolled through the Marketplace.

"And 570,000 people get coverage through the Healthy Michigan Plan and 1.7 million people are enrolled in Medicaid," said Jennifer Smith, Public Information Officer from the Michigan Department of Community Heath.

Andrea Miller, Public Information Officer for the Department of Insurance and Financial services said the Marketplace has the most health insurance options for people. "There were 16 plans offered in Michigan this year. we were in the state that has the most to offer."

There is a Special Enrollment Period from March 15 through the end of April. People can sign up during that time if they experienced some life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death in the household in the past 60 days.

This is also the first year that people will be fined for not having heath coverage.

The fine for not having coverage in 2014 is either 1% of your yearly household income or $95 per person, depending on which is higher. The fine for 2015 is 2% of your yearly household income or $325 per person, depending on which is higher, according to healthcare.gov.

Miller said, "if they were be ale to prove that they weren't aware that they would be penalized for not having insurance, then they can get back into the marketplace and try to get coverage during that (Special Enrollment) time period."