Washington State: 92K QHPs thru 12/22 (69K renewals, 23K new)

One more big update tonight...the Washington exchange posted this press release earlier today:

Washington Healthplanfinder Reminds Residents to Get Enrolled by 5 p.m. Today
Renewing Customers Must Also Take Action to Avoid a Gap in Coverage

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange is reminding residents today to select and pay for a Qualified Health Plan through www.wahealthplanfinder.org by 5 p.m. for coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2015. As of yesterday, more than 92,000 residents have enrolled for coverage that starts in 2015, with 22,710 of those customers enrolling for the first time in a Qualified Health Plan.

Interest surrounding the Dec. 23 deadline has been strong with approximately 30,000 calls to the Customer Support Center since Friday, Dec. 19. Nearly 7,000 customers enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan from Friday to Sunday alone.

For comparison, the previous update for WA was 56K total (46K renewals, 10K new) through 12/10, so their total is up 36K since then. They also posted a confirmation of just how many potential renewals there are in Washington State:

...Data shows that roughly half of the 130,000 customers who are currently enrolled in a Qualified Health Plan have not yet taken action to renew their coverage for 2015. The majority of these customers are those with an unpaid balance for 2014 coverage.

Well, yes. 92,000 total 2015 enrollments minus 22,710 new additions = about 69,290 manual renewals. That leaves about 61,000 more who had until 5pm today to get on top of it.

In addition, right at the 5pm deadline, WA issued this follow-up press release, which shows just how much of a headache trying to lock down a precise "enrolled as of January 1st" figure could prove to be:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 23, 2014, 5:00 p.m. PST

Washington Healthplanfinder Shares Important Guidance for Consumers Who Were Unable to Meet Dec. 23 Deadline for Coverage That Starts on Jan. 1 • Those who Experienced Technical Errors May Qualify for a Special Enrollment Opportunity

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange today announced additional guidance for residents who have made an effort to receive health coverage through www.wahealthplanfinder.org before the Dec. 23 deadline, but who were unable to complete their applications due to a technical error associated with the Washington Healthplanfinder system.

These residents will have a 60-day special enrollment opportunity through Feb. 23, 2015 to receive retroactive coverage that begins on Jan. 1. The retroactive option applies to applications started or submitted by 4:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Individuals will have their insurance benefits retroactively configured to the start of the year.

"We want to make sure that every eligible customer is able to receive Jan. 1 coverage," said Richard Onizuka, CEO for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. "However, it's important that these individuals follow our special enrollment process to ensure we are able to facilitate their request."

Starting at 12 p.m. tomorrow, affected customers should fill out an online request form for Jan. 1 coverage at:https://petition.wahealthplanfinder.org/. If customers need assistance or do not have Internet access, they may also contact the Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633. Each request will be reviewed for consideration and customers will receive a notification of their special enrollment period through email or mail.

Eligible customers should be aware that they may be required to pay the full cost of treatment or prescription medications they receive until their retroactive coverage is confirmed with their insurance company. However, they will be entitled to reimbursement for covered services from covered providers in their health plan.

"If you are determined eligible for Jan. 1 coverage and complete your plan selection and payment, any services you receive after Jan. 1 will be reimbursed according to your plan benefits," said Onizuka. "Please note that this request may take more time than our standard enrollment process but that we will make every effort possible to expedite your enrollment."

Customers may contact their health plan with any questions about how to use their benefits before they receive their ID card.

Customers that are eligible for the special enrollment opportunity include, but are not limited to: those who were affected by a recent Deloitte cancellation error on Dec. 2, those who may have received an incorrect tax credit calculation through Washington Healthplanfinder, and those who created an application by Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. but experienced a Washington Healthplanfinder system error that prevented them from meeting the deadline.

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

Reminders: 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.