People signing up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act have about a month left to do so before the open enrollment period ends on December 15. But health care advocates say it’s best not to wait until the last minute.

Health care was a big campaign issue across the Midwest, and Tuesday's election results were mixed. Among the winners: medical marijuana.

Across the Midwest, health care has emerged as one of the year’s biggest campaign flash points—in races from U.S. Senate to state attorney general. In Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Indiana, speeches, debates and ads highlighting partisan disputes over major health care issues. Among them: the Affordable Care Act, a single-payer health system and decriminalization of drug use.

The state of Illinois will receive about $380,000 this year to fund navigators who help enroll people and families in health insurance plans on the marketplace established under the Affordable Care Act. That’s compared to the more than $3 million the state received to fund those positions in 2013, the year the program launched, according to an announcement made last week by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

Time is running out to sign up for health insurance on the Affordable Care Act open exchange.