site subscriptions not converting to email subscriptions

I have a site on WordPress.com and a MailChimp account. I used a plugin called “MailChimp for WordPress Lite, v 2.0” to generate an email signup form, got my API key, and copied it into Mailchimp and created a list in Mailchimp to receive the subscribers.

When people sign up, one of two things happen: (1) they show up as “users” on my hosted webpage (Bluehost) dashboard, but not in my Mailchimp email list, or (2) they show up on the Mailchimp list, but not as “users” on the webpage.

I signed up last night using my wife’s email. I also answered the confirmation email. My wife’s email then was listed on the Mailchimp list, but not the webpage users list. This leads me to believe that you end up on the Mailchimp list if you answer the confirmation email, and the webpage users list if you do not. Thus, the two lists seem to be mutually-exclusive.

(1) Is this assumption correct?
(2) Are there settings where I can change this (either on Mailchimp or WordPress)?

thanks