101,000 buy health coverage in state’s open enrollment

SEATTLE – Between renewals and new customers, 101,000 Washington residents have bought health insurance through the Washington exchange so far this open enrollment period.

About 76,000 renewed their policies by the Tuesday deadline for Jan. 1 coverage. About 25,000 are new to the exchange and will have insurance on Jan. 1.

Last year, during the first open enrollment period since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, nearly 65,000 Washington residents had bought private insurance through the exchange in time for Jan. 1 coverage.

Exchange spokesman Michael Marchand says this year’s numbers will be preliminary for at least a few more weeks.

Many of the 54,000 who currently have insurance through the exchange but haven’t renewed for next year have two possible ways to keep that insurance on Jan. 1.

For a while, they will be treated like people who are just late on their payments. If they pay up during the grace period and renew at that time, they will not have a gap in coverage.

More than 80,000 people were late on their payments at least once during the past year and most of them paid within 23 days. Marchand believes past experience indicates many of the 54,000 who have not renewed for next year will do so at the same time they catch up on their payments in January.

“It could be a sizable number,” he said.

Some may also want to apply for an extension because they were having technical problems. This possibility works for new customers as well.

To qualify for the extension, people should fill out an online request form. People who need extra help or do not have Internet access may call the customer support center. Exchange officials say customers making an extension request will receive a reply through email or regular mail.