Best Cheap Health Insurance in Washington, D.C. (2026)
Kaiser Permanente has the best cheap health insurance in Washington, D.C. Its Silver plans start at $565 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Washington, D.C.
Cheapest health insurance companies in Washington, D.C.
Of the two companies on the marketplace in D.C., Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest health insurance plans with Silver rates starting at $565 per month, on average, before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in Washington, D.C.
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | $565-$628 |
| CareFirst | $610-$660 |
- Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest Silver, Gold and Platinum plans in Washington, D.C. The company's Silver plans start at $565 per month. Kaiser also has the highest-quality coverage according to HealthCare.gov.
- CareFirst sells the most affordable Bronze plans in the District. That makes CareFirst a good option if you're young and generally healthy.
- CareFirst is a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) company. That means CareFirst customers can use the BCBS network of doctors and hospitals, which is the largest in the nation.
Best health insurance companies in Washington, D.C.
Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance company in Washington, D.C.
The company scored a perfect 5-star rating from HealthCare.gov. These ratings measure customer satisfaction, plan quality and management.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in Washington, D.C.
Company |
ACA rating
|
VP rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | ||
| CareFirst |
- Kaiser Permanente also has a good rating of 4 out of 5 stars from ValuePenguin editors. In contrast, CareFirst scored a poor 2.5 out of 5 stars.
- Kaiser Permanente runs its own hospitals in addition to its insurance business. If you have Kaiser insurance, you have to use a Kaiser hospital or an in-network health care provider. This means you're trading flexibility for more streamlined coverage and billing.
How much is health insurance in Washington, D.C.?
Health insurance in Washington, D.C., costs $618 per month, on average, at full cost or could be about $337 per month after discounts.
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- You'll pay more for health insurance as you get older. Coverage is typically cheaper in your 20s and 30s and gets significantly more expensive as you enter middle age.
- Higher plan tiers have high monthly rates, but you'll pay less when you get medical care. Lower plan tiers cost less each month, but you're responsible for a larger portion of your medical care bill.
Health insurance discount changes for Washington, D.C., for 2026
Those who qualify for discounted coverage could pay $337 per month, on average. That's an average savings of $281 per month.
For people who can get subsidies, rates might increase from about $243 in 2025 to $337 in 2026. That's because discount levels could be changing for 2026.
Since 2021, shoppers on DC Health Link, the District's health exchange, have gotten higher discounts called "expanded subsidies." These better discounts expire at the end of 2025. You may be able to get discounts based on your income, but they probably won't be as good as they were in the past.
Income | 2025 rate | 2026 rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| $40,000 | $154 | $287 | 86% |
| $50,000 | $283 | $415 | 47% |
| $60,000 | $423 | $498 | 18% |
| $70,000 | $496 | $610 | 23% |
Average cost after subsidies for a single 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan.
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- Who can get subsidies in Washington D.C.? If you make between $15,650 and $62,600 as an individual or $32,150 and $128,600 for a family of four, you may qualify for subsidies. Your discount will be higher if you make less money.
- How do subsidies work? You can use your subsidy to buy health insurance from any company. Subsidies can be used for Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plans. These discounts can't be used toward a Catastrophic plan.
- How much do you save? You can use ValuePenguin's subsidy calculator to find out how much a subsidy will lower your health insurance rate.
Best health insurance by plan tier
To find the best health insurance plan tier for you, consider your health, savings and the discounts you qualify for.
You may qualify for extra discounts if you earn a low or average income and you have a Silver plan. These discounts, called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), help you pay for most of the costs you're responsible for when you go to the hospital.
Platinum plans: Best if you have a serious health condition
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
Platinum plans cost an average of $871 per month in Washington, D.C.
Platinum health plans pay for most of the costs you're responsible for when you go to the doctor. That makes these plans a good choice if you have a serious medical condition, such as cancer, heart disease or a stroke.
If you don't have severe medical needs, a Platinum plan rarely makes sense because of its high monthly costs.
Gold plans: Best if you have ongoing medical issues
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans cost $735 per month, on average, in Washington, D.C.
Gold plans have high monthly rates, but they cover a large portion of your bills when you get medical care. Consider a Gold plan if you have an ongoing medical problem.
Silver plans: Best for average medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver health plans cost an average of $618 per month in Washington, D.C.
Silver health plans have average rates and middle-of-the-road costs that you're responsible for paying when you go to the hospital. A Silver plan is a good option if you have average medical needs.
Bronze plans: Best if you're generally healthy and you have savings
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans cost an average of $544 per month in Washington, D.C.
Bronze plans have affordable rates but high costs that you're responsible for paying when you go to the doctor. A Bronze plan may be a good choice if you're young and generally healthy and you can afford to pay a large, surprise medical bill from your savings.
Catastrophic plans: Best if you're young and generally healthy
Catastrophic health plans cost an average of $245 per month in Washington, D.C.
Catastrophic insurance has lower rates, but you'll pay a lot more if you go to a hospital. These plans can be a good choice if you're young and generally healthy. Catastrophic health insurance is only available to people under 30 years old or those who qualify for an affordability exemption .
More discounts and free health insurance in Washington, D.C.
You may be eligible for extra discounts or free coverage if you live in Washington, D.C., and you have a low income.
Medicaid: Free coverage for those who qualify
You can qualify for free government health insurance, called Medicaid, if you make roughly $22,000 per year or less as an individual. Pregnant women, families with young children, those younger than 21, elderly people and those with qualifying disabilities may be eligible for Medicaid with a higher income.
Washington, D.C., lowered the income limits for childless adults to qualify for Medicaid in 2026. In 2025, individuals could qualify for Medicaid if they made about $2,800 per month. In 2026, childless adult individuals will only qualify if they make $1,800 or less each month. That means you may not qualify for Medicaid in 2026, even if you qualified in 2025.
Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions (CSRs): Best for discounted coverage
| Silver plans will pay 73% to 94% of your medical costs if you have a low income. |
You may qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), if you earn less than about $39,125 per year as a single person ($80,375 for a family of four) and you have a Silver health plan. Cost-sharing reductions help pay for the costs that you're responsible for when you go to the doctor, such as your deductible, copays and coinsurance.
Healthy DC Plans are available for people with low incomes in D.C.
Starting in 2026, Washington, D.C., will offer the Healthy DC Plan, a health insurance option for people with moderate incomes. The plan lets you get medical care from participating doctors, hospitals, urgent cares and other facilities for free.
There are no out-of-pocket costs for covered medical care, treatments, prescriptions and more. If you qualify, you also won't have to pay monthly premiums.
To qualify for the Healthy DC Plan, you must:
- Be a US citizen or lawful resident
- Be 21 to 64 years old
- Not be eligible for Medicaid
- Not be eligible for other coverage or insurance through an employer
- Have an income between 138% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
Are health insurance rates going up in Washington, D.C., in 2026?
The cost of health insurance in Washington, D.C., rose by 8%, on average, between 2024 and 2025.
Bronze plans had the largest increase, at 9%. Silver plans went up by an average of 8%, and both Gold and Platinum plans went up by 7%, on average. Since 2022, the cost of a Silver plan has gone up by 46%.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $436 | 6% |
| 2024 | $474 | 9% |
| 2025 | $498 | 5% |
| 2026 | $544 | 9% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $413 | – |
| 2023 | $436 | 6% |
| 2024 | $474 | 9% |
| 2025 | $498 | 5% |
| 2026 | $544 | 9% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old. Expanded Bronze plans are included in 2024, 2025 and 2026 averages, when they're offered.
Silver
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $424 | – |
| 2023 | $475 | 12% |
| 2024 | $583 | 23% |
| 2025 | $573 | -2% |
| 2026 | $618 | 8% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $502 | – |
| 2023 | $580 | 16% |
| 2024 | $642 | 11% |
| 2025 | $684 | 7% |
| 2026 | $735 | 7% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $633 | – |
| 2023 | $715 | 13% |
| 2024 | $770 | 8% |
| 2025 | $812 | 5% |
| 2026 | $871 | 7% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in D.C. in 2026?
Higher medical costs are driving up the price of health insurance in 2026.
The cost for health care — including doctor visits, treatments and medications — is going up. As that happens, medical insurance companies have to pay more for your care. To make up for the increase, health insurance companies raise rates for everyone. The health insurance companies in Washington, D.C., have raised their rates by an average of 8% in 2026.
Expensive medications, especially weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, are also increasing the cost for health insurance. These medications are expensive and gaining popularity. It costs health insurance companies a lot of money to pay for these drugs for their customers, so rates go up for everyone to balance it out.
Another reason rates are higher in 2026 is the end of extra discounts, called "enhanced subsides." These bigger discounts have been in place since 2021, but they probably won't be available for 2026 insurance plans. This is causing the discounts on the marketplace in 2026 to be smaller, meaning you'll pay more even if you get financial help.
What to do if your rate goes up in 2026
- Get quotes and compare plans. Each company and plan has its own rate, so it can be helpful to get quotes and see if there's a more affordable option. But before you buy a new plan, make sure your doctors are in network.
- Consider a lower coverage tier. If you don't go to the doctor often, consider dropping to a lower-tier plan, such as Bronze. You'll get a cheaper monthly rate, but you'll have to pay for more of your health care as a tradeoff.
- Open an HSA. If you have or switch to a Bronze plan, you can get a health savings account (HSA), which lets you set aside pre-tax money to use for medical costs. This is a new perk with Bronze plans in 2026, because they're now considered high-deductible health plans.
- Check for discounts. If you have a low income, use a subsidy calculator to see if you get discounts. Even though the savings might not be as big in 2026, they'll still help you save if you qualify.
- See if you can get Medicaid. If you have a very low income, check to see if you can get Medicaid in D.C. If you qualify, most of your health care should be free or very cheap.
- Consider a Healthy DC Plan. The Healthy DC Plan is a no-cost insurance plan available to low- to moderate-income people. The plan lets you see doctors and go to hospitals and urgent care locations in their network without having to pay anything out of pocket.
Plans sold through the Washington, D.C., health marketplace, DC Health Link, are required to cover certain services, called minimum essential coverage. This includes 10 important coverage types, such as rehabilitation services, prescription drugs, care for pregnant women and mental health services.
Marketplace plans have other important protections. For example, all marketplace plans limit how much you'll have to spend in a single year on out-of-pocket costs with an out-of-pocket maximum. Plus, companies aren't allowed to consider your health history when selling coverage or setting rates. That means you won't face higher prices if you currently have (or have had in the past) a serious illness, like cancer or heart disease.
DC Health Link also lets you compare plans by the size of their network. You can filter by plans that have nationwide coverage, coverage in D.C. and Maryland or coverage only in D.C.
Short-term health insurance in Washington, D.C.
Short-term health insurance is not currently available in Washington, D.C., because of restrictive local rules.
If you need to buy medical insurance outside of open enrollment (Nov. 1 through Jan. 15), see if you're eligible for a special enrollment period.
You may qualify if you've recently lost your coverage for any reason or if you've moved, married, divorced, had a child or lost your job.
If you were recently laid off or fired, you can keep your workplace coverage by enrolling in COBRA. Keep in mind that your costs will go up by a lot because you'll now have to pay for the portion of your monthly bill that your employer used to cover.
Marketplace coverage usually makes better sense from a financial standpoint. However, COBRA can be a good option if you want to continue seeing the doctors in your network or you've met your annual deductible.
Health insurance enrollment by income level in Washington, D.C.
The changes to health insurance discounts in 2026 affect people with low incomes the most.
That's because people with lower incomes are more likely to buy health insurance through DC Health Link than they are to get a policy through an employer. For example, in 2025 in Washington, D.C., nearly 20% of people with a marketplace plan made less than $45,181.
Enrollment by income
Income | % of total enrollment |
|---|---|
| Less than $15,060 | 8% |
| $15,060 to $20,783 | 0% |
| $20,784 to $22,590 | 0% |
| $22,591 to $30,120 | 1% |
| $30,121 to $37,650 | 5% |
Enrollment in 2025 marketplace plans made during the 2024-2025 Open Enrollment period. Total may not be 100% due to rounding
Frequently asked questions
What's the best cheap health insurance in Washington, D.C.?
Kaiser Permanente has the best cheap health insurance in Washington, D.C. The company scored a perfect 5-star rating from HealthCare.gov. Plus, Kaiser has the cheapest rates in D.C. for Silver, Gold and Platinum plans.
What is a disadvantage of choosing Kaiser?
If you have Kaiser Permanente insurance, you have to use a Kaiser Permanente hospital. That's a disadvantage for those people who want to see a doctor who's not in the Kaiser Permanente system. Plus, you're further limited to the doctors in your plan's network because Kaiser only sells HMO plans in Washington, D.C.
What is the average cost of health insurance in Washington, D.C.?
Medical insurance in Washington, D.C., costs $618 per month, on average, for a Silver plan. Coverage may cost an average of $337 per month for residents who qualify for discounts.
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance in D.C.?
No, $200 per month is a cheap rate for health insurance in Washington, D.C. On average, a 21-year-old pays $461 per month and a 40-year-old pays $618 per month for a Silver plan. You could get coverage for $200 per month or even less if you have a low income and you get discounts.
How do you qualify for subsidies for health insurance in Washington, D.C.?
To qualify for subsidies or discounts on health insurance, you'll need to make between $15,650 and $62,600 as an individual, between $21,150 and $84,600 as a couple and between $32,150 and $128,600 as a family of four. The lower your income is, the bigger your discounts will likely be. If your income falls above that range, you won't qualify for subsidies.
Methodology
Washington, D.C., health insurance rate data for 2026 is from DC Health Link. ValuePenguin used the CMS public use files (PUFs) to find average rates for different plan tiers, geographic locations and family sizes.
Rates
Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Rates for Bronze plans include regular and Expanded Bronze plans for 2024, 2025 and 2026, when the plans are available. Your costs and plan options will vary; plans aren't always available in all parts of a state or county.
Subsidies
Rates after subsidies are estimates for a 40-year-old with a Benchmark Silver plan and are based on how subsidies were structured before 2021. Prices are calculated using KFF's rates for full-price Benchmark plans, federal poverty levels (FPLs), IRS rules about premium tax credits and Congressional reports about expanded tax credits. The total cost in the state uses rates calculated by income, which are weighted using CMS data on the incomes of those who purchased plans during last year's open enrollment. The median was used for each income range. Unknown incomes were excluded from the calculations. Incomes of 100% of the federal poverty line and 500% of the federal poverty line were assumed for enrollees who earn less than 100% FPL and more than 500% FPL, respectively. Information about state subsidies, when available, was sourced from state marketplaces.
Ratings
ValuePenguin's experts rank companies based on cost, coverage options, customer satisfaction and unique value. Ratings are out of 100 possible points. ACA ratings show how the company performs in Washington, D.C., for medical care, member experience and plan administration. This 2026 plan quality data from CMS is based on data from last year. Ratings are not available for new plans or plans with low enrollment.
More sources
Enrollment trends, including plan selections by tier and enrollment by income, are from CMS data for the 2025 open enrollment period.
Other sources include S&P Global Capital IQ and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Auto and motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- The Miami Herald
- Money.com
- MSN
- Nasdaq
- The Sacramento Bee
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, University of Washington
- Certificate in Copyediting, UC San Diego
Credentials
- Licensed Life & Disability Insurance Agent
- Licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
