OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A record number of Washington residents recently signed up for state health insurance plans.

Washington Health Benefit Exchange says that over 273,000 people applied for state health coverage during this year’s open enrollment period.

The online health insurance marketplace says that of that total, roughly 52,000 people were new to the program.

Plans were offered to residents regardless of their immigration status for the first time this year.

The Exchange says that a record number of people also signed up for dental insurance.

In Whatcom County, over 60,000 people were covered by a state health insurance plan as of September.