More than 86,000 newly insured in state

SEATTLE — Officials say more than 86,000 residents have signed up for private insurance since Oct. 1 through Washington’s state’s new health care exchange.

That’s a jump of more than 10,000 people in the past two weeks.

Another 234,000 have signed up for free insurance through Medicaid since Oct. 1, most of whom became eligible when the state expanded coverage to people slightly making more money.

More than 80,000 others have filled out their forms and chosen a private health plan but still need to make their first payment before getting health insurance coverage.

Open enrollment for the new health care exchange runs through the end of March.