More than 90,000 signed up for Washington health insurance

SEATTLE (AP) — About 22,500 people have signed up for private health insurance since the Washington health exchange started open enrollment in mid-November.

Another 70,000 people have renewed coverage they bought in 2014.

Tuesday at 5 p.m. is the deadline for signing up for private health insurance that takes effect on Jan. 1. Health officials say they expect those totals to go up dramatically before the deadline.

People who want to sign up for insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, need to pick a plan and pay for it by the end of the work day.

Officials at the health exchange say they saw a lot of traffic on the website this weekend, with nearly 7,000 people enrolling between Friday and Sunday.

Those who have not been able to sign up because of technical problems will be given some extra time beyond Tuesday's deadline.