People over the age of 34 - who don't have private health insurance - have until midnight tonight to sign up to avoid being hit with extra penalties.
Lifetime Community Rating kicks in at midnight.
Currently everyone pays the same for health cover - regardless of their age, gender or medical history.
That will no longer be the case from tomorrow with those over the age of 34 looking to take out a policy being charged a two per cent loading.
Insurance companies are reporting a massive surge in the number of people signing up over the past few days.
Dermot Goode from totalhealthcover.ie says there are harsh consequences for those who don't get into the system by midnight:
