Insurance signup deadline extended for some applicants

OLYMPIA - People who experienced trouble applying for health insurance at Washington Health Plan Finder, the state health insurance exchange, may have until April 15 to sign up.

Operators of the federal health insurance exchange announced Wednesday that the deadline for application and payment would be extended to April 15 for people who experienced difficulty applying through the federal system.

The original deadline for federal and state exchanges was March 31. "We are not extending the deadline," Bethany Frey, of Washington Health Plan Finder, said. "Residents must complete their app and submit payment by March 31 at 11:59 p.m. However, considerations will be made on a case-by-case basis for residents who were unable to complete their app due to a technological error," Frey said.

"This does not include customers who submit incomplete or incorrect information, or did not take steps to finish their current application in the system," exchange CEO Richard Onizuka said.

Customers who qualify for the extension will be notified by exchange officials, Onizuka said. People who think they may qualify can contact the exchange at 855-923-4633, or at the website, to report their circumstances, he said.

People who want to buy an individual health insurance policy must purchase by March 31, whether or not they're buying insurance through the exchange, according to a press release from the insurance commissioner's office. Individuals will be prohibited from buying health insurance after March 31, even if it's through a private company, unless they qualify for certain exemptions.

If the deadline isn't extended, Washington residents who enroll and pay for insurance by March 31 will qualify for coverage beginning May 1. The deadline has already passed for people who wanted coverage by April 1.

Enrollment periods are new to the individual market, the press release said. "In the past, people could buy health insurance whenever they needed it as long as they could pass a health screen," the press release said.

"Now, under the Affordable Care Act, you cannot be denied health insurance but you must buy coverage during a limited period of time.

This is designed to stop people from buying health insurance when they become ill and later drop it when they're well, according to the press release.

People who qualify for an exemption generally have 60 days to buy a plan, the press release said.

The exemptions include losing a plan, moving to a place where the current plan doesn't provide coverage, or if employer-based coverage ends. People who get married or divorced, start or end a domestic partnership, or have kids (or place a child for adoption) also qualify for exemptions.

People who were enrolled in Medicaid but no longer qualify for it can buy a private plan, the press release said. So can customers on the exchange whose insurer didn't meet the plan provisions, or people who lose coverage because of mistakes on the exchange.

People must make the first payment for the insurance to become effective, Frey said.