Washington Healthplanfinder today announced that nearly 60,000 residents have signed up for Qualified Health Plans or renewed their coverage for 2015 through wahealthplanfinder.org. In addition, 480,000 new adults have accessed coverage through Washington Apple Health (Medicaid), and more than 60 percent of Washington Apple Health clients have been automatically renewed via the online marketplace.

Residents who qualify for Qualified Health Plans must select and pay for a plan by Dec. 23 at 4:59 p.m. for coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2015. Based on data from the first open enrollment period, enrollments are expected to surge considerably ahead of the Dec. 23 deadline. Washington Apple Health enrollment is year-round.

“Interest in accessing free or low-cost health insurance remains high among Washingtonians this open enrollment period,” said Richard Onizuka, CEO for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “Washington Healthplanfinder has received approximately 16,000 site visits per day, while the Customer Support Center has received an average of 10,000 calls a day.”

Updated enrollment totals are included below:

*Note: These numbers reflect QHP enrollments through Dec. 10 and Medicaid Enrollments through Dec. 4.

“Making the renewal process for Washington Apple Health clients as seamless as possible is a top priority for us, and we are pleased that is happening so that people can continue accessing the care they need,” said MaryAnne Lindeblad, state Medicaid director at the Health Care Authority. “We also see that as new individuals come into the exchange to shop for insurance, some are finding they are eligible for Washington Apple Health.”

On Dec. 2, the Exchange announced that its IT systems integrator, Deloitte, ran an automated cancellation process in error that affected coverage for 6,000 customer accounts who were enrolled in Qualified Health Plans starting on Jan. 1. Outreach efforts have resulted in a positive response to-date.

“In the first week following the error, more than 4,000 customer accounts have already had their coverage reinstated,” said Onizuka. “We’ll continue to reach out to remaining customers through personal phone calls, emails, letters, community partners and insurance brokers.”

The launch of Washington Healthplanfinder Business has also generated a promising level of interest among employers. The marketplace allows employers in Washington with up to 50 employees to compare health plans, decide their contribution level, manage payment and access broker support in one place. The majority of businesses that have completed applications will provide their employees with a range of options in one metal tier of coverage – a benefit that is currently unavailable in the outside market.

Approximately 130,000 customers are currently enrolled in Qualified Health Plans for 2014 coverage. The Exchange expects to gain an additional 85,000 customers in Qualified Health Plans during the second open enrollment period, which ends on Feb. 15, 2015.

To view past data reports, please visit the Washington Health Benefit Exchange News Center at http://wahbexchange.org/news-resources/press-room/

Reminders: Residents must select and pay for a Qualified Health Plan by Dec. 23, 2014 at 4:59 p.m. for coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2015.

Enrollment in Washington Healthplanfinder Business and Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) is year-round. Apple Health customers will receive a notice 60 days before the month they enrolled in or renewed their coverage last year.

Residents who are interested in signing up or renewing their Qualified Health Plan may visit www.wahealthplanfinder.org.