By Donna Gordon Blankinship
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Between renewals and new customers, 101,000 state 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 very 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.
“I was kind of blown away with how many people entered grace periods at some time last year,” Marchand said.
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 sizeable number,” he said.
Some may also want to apply for an extension because they were having technical problems.
Those who could not finish their applications because of technical errors associated with the Washington Healthplanfinder system may be eligible for a 60-day special enrollment opportunity through Feb. 23 to receive retroactive coverage that begins Jan. 1.
To qualify for the extension, people must fill out online request forms at https://petition.wahealthplanfinder.org.
People who need extra help or do not have internet access may call the customer support center at 855-923-4633.
