Claire Hughes is reporting at Capitol Confidential the state Health Department is reporting enrollment in the state’s health insurance exchange, New York State of Health, surpassed 666,000 people as of Tues., Mar. 18. Nearly 1 million people have completed applications through the website, signaling their intent to shop for plans. Enrollees are about evenly split as to whether they qualified for coverage through the government-sponsored Medicaid program, or enrolled in private health plans. Open enrollment through New York State of Health ends March 31. After that date, only people eligible for government programs, such as Medicaid and Child Health Plus; or who undergo a big life change — marriage, divorce, birth of a child or loss of a job — will be able to sign up through NY State of Health for coverage beginning before 2015. The website is the only place where an individual who makes up to $46,000 a year can get financial assistance to buy insurance. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.