New enrollment figures from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange show that it has already exceeded its goal for the open enrollment period (which ends Jan. 31). Through Jan. 2, 173,947 qualified (private) health plans have been selected. Of those, 50,215 are new customers. The Exchange's goal for the entire period is about 160,000. Since the goal is significantly lower than last year's, this may be a case of under-promise, over-deliver. Also, keep in mind that these are plans selected, not plans paid.

Still, good news for the Exchange. Another positive sign for the Exchange is that young invincibles

stand out as one of the largest areas of growth over the previous enrollment period. More than 50,000 residents under the age of 35 signed up for a new plan or renewed their coverage through the first nine weeks of 2016 enrollment, including more than 29,000 sign-ups among residents 26-34 years old. Those totals represent a 66 percent increase in sign-ups over last year within members of that age group.