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Residents of Washington, D.C., have many options when it comes to affordable health insurance. You can sign up for a health plan via DC Health Link, enroll in your employer’s group coverage, use TRICARE or another military health plan, or enroll in Medicare or Medicaid if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Keep reading to learn more about your health insurance options in Washington, D.C.
To enroll in a health plan, visit DCHealthLink.com and click the “Get Started” button under “Individual & Family.” Then, click “Shop & Enroll” to start the application process. If you want to check your eligibility for lower monthly premiums, you’ll need to answer questions about your household size, availability of employer coverage, and household income. When you click “Get Your Estimated Savings”, the site will tell you if you qualify for reduced premiums or Medicaid coverage based on your income.
Once you answer the initial questions, you’ll need to create a DC Health Link account to finish your application. After you enter the required information, you’ll be able to see the plans available to you. DC Health Link has several standardized plans to make it easier to compare costs and coverage options. These standard plans cover many services, such as primary care visits and generic drugs, before you’ve met your deductible. As a result, your out-of-pocket costs may be lower than they would be with a nonstandard plan. You can click on each plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage to determine how much you can expect to pay for each type of covered service.
Once you pick a plan, you’ll be able to complete the enrollment process.
Like many states, the District of Columbia uses the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. If you’d like to purchase a plan from the exchange, visit HealthCare.gov to create an account.
Once you have an account, you can apply for health insurance. The Health Insurance Marketplace checks your eligibility for Medicaid and uses the information you provide to determine if you qualify for an Advanced Premium Tax Credit. Make sure you have the full name, birth date, and Social Security number of every person in your family who needs coverage before you start the application process.
The application will ask you several questions related to your income and family, including the following:
After entering the required information, you’ll be able to view a list of available plans, including monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and coinsurance requirements. HealthCare.gov also allows you to make side-by-side comparisons of up to three plans at a time. Once you pick a plan, you’ll be able to complete the enrollment process.
The following insurance companies offer health insurance plans to Washington D.C. residents in the Marketplace:
Although there are many health plans from which to choose, picking a plan is a little easier if you’re only looking for individual coverage. You don’t need to worry about meeting a family deductible or choosing a plan that covers the needs of several people.
Cost is typically one of the most important considerations when buying health coverage. Not only do you need to think about the monthly premium, but you also have to compare plans based on their deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. If you have a severely limited budget, you may need to pick the plan with the lowest premium even if it has a high deductible and high out-of-pocket limit. If you can afford it, a plan with a higher premium may be a better choice if you know you’ll need regular health care services.
Access to care is also an important consideration. Your health insurance won’t do you much good if you can’t use it to see your preferred health care providers. Compare each plan carefully to determine if your primary care provider (PCP) and any specialists you see are considered in-network. If you prefer one hospital over the others in your area, you should also check to see if your preferred hospital is an in-network facility.
There are different types of plans you can choose from:
When shopping for family coverage, consider the age of each person in your household and any special health needs they may have. For example, if you’re a person of child-bearing age, you may want to compare plans to see which one offers the best coverage for prenatal and maternity care.
Another distinction between individual and family coverage is that family plans often have an individual deductible and a family deductible. This means that each individual on the plan must meet their deductible before the insurance company starts paying for any of the services they receive. In some cases, it’s possible to meet the family deductible before meeting each individual deductible.
As with many areas of the country, the type of health insurance plan you choose determines what your overall costs will be. Your options include Bronze, Silver, and Gold plans. From 2018 to 2020, the average costs of all of these plans rose slightly every year. However, in 2021, average costs dipped slightly and have remained about the same in 2022.
Average premiums in Washington, D.C. | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Most affordable Bronze plan | $316 | $345 | $337 | $348 |
Most affordable Silver plan | $380 | $404 | $384 | $382 |
Most affordable Gold plan | $426 | $450 | $431 | $417 |
As a resident of Washington, D.C., you have access to Medicaid coverage if you meet certain income and asset requirements. Even if your family doesn’t qualify for Medicaid, you may qualify for health coverage through the DC Healthcare Alliance or DC Healthy Families.
DC Medicaid pays for health services incurred by low-income residents and residents who have qualifying disabilities. You may be eligible for DC Medicaid if you meet any of the following requirements:
The Medicaid income limit depends on your household size. If you’re single and live alone, the annual limit is $17,131. For a household size of eight, the limit increases to $59,398. If you have more than eight people in your household, you can determine the annual income limit by adding $6,038 for each additional person. A household of nine, for example, would have an annual income limit of $65,436.
To apply for Medicaid, visit the DC Health Link website. Click “Get Started” under “Individual & Family” and then click the “Apply for Medicaid” button on the next page.
DC Healthcare Alliance offers health coverage to Washington, D.C., residents who don’t qualify for Medicaid. You may qualify for this type of coverage if you meet the following requirements:
If you qualify for DC Healthcare Alliance coverage, you’ll be assigned to one of three managed care organizations: CareFirst Community Health Plan, MedStar Family Choice, or AmeriHealth Caritas. You can enroll in one of these plans by visiting the DC Healthy Families website.
DC Healthy Families offers free health insurance to Washington, D.C., residents who meet the eligibility requirements. The program covers people in the following groups:
The income limits depend on which category you’re in. For adults without dependent children, the threshold is no more than 210% of the FPL, with 5% of your income disregarded when determining your eligibility. Therefore, the monthly income limit ranges from $2,307.67 for a single person to $7,300.37 for a household of six.
Pregnant women qualify with incomes at or below 319% of the FPL, and parents and caretakers qualify with incomes at or below 216% of the FPL. Children under the age of 21 qualify if they live in households at 319% of the FPL if they’re age 18 or younger and 216% of the FPL if they’re 19 or 20 years old. For each type of coverage, 5% of your income is disregarded when determining if you qualify for coverage.
Washington, D.C. has options for older adults and younger people with qualifying disabilities.
If you choose Original Medicare, you can also purchase supplemental plans to extend your coverage. Medicare Part D covers prescription medications, while Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) covers deductibles, copays, and other out-of-pocket Medicare costs.
Eligibility
To qualify for Medicare, you must be at least 65 years old or have a qualifying disability. In most cases, a qualifying disability is a condition that makes you eligible for at least 24 months of payments from the Social Security Disability Insurance program or Railroad Retirement Board. You may be able to qualify sooner if you have end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Enrollment
If you start receiving your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least four months before you turn 65, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare. Otherwise, you must fill out an application online or contact your local Social Security office. You can enroll in Medicare during the following periods:
If you need assistance or have questions regarding Medicare enrollment, you can contact the DC Department of Aging and Community Living by calling 202-724-5626.
Under Washington, D.C., law, a short-term health insurance contract must expire within three months of its effective date. You can’t renew the plan or purchase another short-term plan from a different insurance company to get around the time limit. Short-term plans don’t have to follow Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements, so they may not offer the same level of coverage as a traditional health insurance plan.
As of 2021, Washington, D.C., has no insurance companies offering short-term coverage, so although this type of coverage is permitted, you can’t currently buy it.