About 24,200 people lacked health insurance in the District of Columbia as of 2019. That’s according to data compiled by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) and represents just 3.6% of the population here. It’s also the second lowest rate of uninsured in the country, after Massachusetts (3%).
The nonprofit found in a separate study that of the people still without health insurance in D.C. as of 2021, about 7,800 people qualify for marketplace coverage.
Note that in D.C., there is an individual mandate for health insurance. That means that if you live here, you’re required to have health insurance unless you qualify for an exemption. Otherwise, you’ll pay a fine for not having coverage.
Under the Affordable Care Act, marketplace health insurance is comprehensive, covering 10 essential health benefits and ensuring that people with pre-existing coverage don’t get turned away because of their medical history. It also comes with subsidies, which can lower the cost of health insurance for most people.
These subsidies, also known as tax credits, are available to people with incomes of 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level.
KFF found that the average lowest cost health plans in the District of Columbia are $337 a month for bronze, $384 for silver and $431 for gold in 2021.
These averages don’t include premium subsidies. Washington, D.C. has its own marketplace for health insurance. That nation’s capital does not use the federal exchange at HealthCare.gov. To find subsidized coverage here, you may need to use DCHealthLink.com.
Costs and plan availability will vary based on where you live. Health insurance carriers in D.C. in 2021 include CareFirst and Kaiser Permanente (not affiliated with the nonprofit).
Sources
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Marketplace Eligibility Among the Uninsured: Implications for a Broadened Enrollment Period and ACA Outreach” (January 27, 2021)
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier, 2018-2021”
Kaiser Family Foundation, “Insurer Participation on the ACA Marketplaces, 2014-2021” (November 23, 2020)