Open enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange (HBE) ended Feb. 15, but the Exchange held a special enrollment period from Feb. 17 through April 17 — for “Washingtonians who recently became aware of the tax penalty for not having health insurance or were unable to complete their applications due to technical issues by the Feb. 15 deadline.”

Yesterday the HBE reported that a total of 170,101 people signed up for or renewed qualified (private) health plans (QHP) through the Exchange. Of that number, more than 16,000 signed up during the special enrollment period, of which 3,000 were renewals. Through March 9, according to a detailed enrollment report, 158,302 had signed up for or renewed QHP.

The Seattle Times points out that even with these new enrollees, the HBE is still short of its goal of 213,000, which “the exchange staff had said was needed for the exchange to be self-sustaining, as required under the law.” More from the Times:

Because of the fewer than expected enrollments, the premium assessment that goes to the exchange may rise. [HBE communications director Michael] Marchand said the current assessment, $4.19 per premium payment each month, may increase in a worst-case scenario to just more than $13.

Marchand added, however, that the exchange has also been revising its operating budget in an effort to require lower increases in assessments.

See here for more on the HBE budget.