SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington Healthplanfinder exchange received a total of 17,221 "qualified health plan" (QHP) applications from Nov. 14 through Nov. 18.
A QHP is a commercial health plan sold through a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exchange.
Weekly QHP application volume at the state-based Washington state exchange increased to about 8,600 during the second half of November, from about 6,300 during the first seven weeks of the exchange plan open enrollment period.
Open enrollment started Oct. 1.
QHP issuers received payments for coverage for 6,389 people in the second half, or about 3,200 people per week.
Issuers were averaging payments for about 1,700 people per week from Oct. 1 through Nov. 14.
State officials said another 150,000 Washington state residents have signed up for free insurance through Medicaid. Of that group, more than 80,000 had no health insurance before qualifying for Medicaid.
