Health insurance cost in Washington, DC
If you're moving to Washington, DC without job-based coverage, here's what a Marketplace plan costs before subsidies. Washington, DC ranks #25 of 51 for the lowest benchmark premium.
Monthly premium by age
| Age | Benchmark silver | Cheapest bronze |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | $455 | $377 |
| 30 | $487 | $403 |
| 40 | $610 | $505 |
| 50 | $895 | $741 |
| 60 | $1,313 | $1,087 |
| 64 | $1,365 | $1,130 |
Washington, DC sets its own age curve. It keeps the 3:1 limit between ages 64 and 21, but prices stop rising at 61 instead of 64. Excludes tobacco surcharges.
The Washington, DC benchmark rose 6% for 2026, less than the 26% national increase, leaving it 2% below the U.S. average for a 40-year-old.
What is different in Washington, DC
- Where to enroll
- DC Health Link
- Open enrollment for 2027
- Nov 1 – Jan 31
- Marketplace insurers, 2026
- 2
- Medicaid expansion
- Since Jan 2014
- Penalty if uninsured
- Yes, at tax time
- Average paid after credits, 2026
- $725/mo
- Where and when. Washington, DC runs its own marketplace, DC Health Link, so you apply there rather than at HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. That window closes 16 days after HealthCare.gov's.
- Choice of insurers. 2 insurers sell Marketplace plans in Washington, DC for 2026, the same number as in 2025. With so few to choose from, check that your doctors are in a plan's network before you pick it. 16,053 people picked a Marketplace plan here for 2026, up 8% from 2025, one of 10 states (counting DC) where sign-ups rose even as the enhanced federal credits ran out.
- What enrollees paid. Enrollees here paid an average of $725 a month after tax credits for 2026, up 19% from the $610 they paid for 2025 (U.S. average: $178). Before credits, the plans they chose averaged $815.
- Medicaid. Washington, DC expanded Medicaid in January 2014, when the ACA expansion took effect. Adults with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level can generally get Medicaid instead of a Marketplace plan.
- Going uninsured. The District requires residents to have coverage. For tax year 2024 the penalty is $795 per adult and $397.50 per child (up to $2,385 a household), or 2.5% of household income above the tax filing threshold if that is more, capped at the District's average bronze-plan premium. In 2024, 4.7% of residents had no health insurance, one of the five lowest shares (U.S.: 8.2%), and 4.6% bought their own coverage.
Subsidies in 2026
The enhanced premium tax credits of 2021–2025 expired, so 2026 follows the original ACA rules: credits are available for household incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, and you're expected to pay between about 2.1% and 9.96% of income for the benchmark plan. Above 400% there's no federal credit. Check your price at DC Health Link.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in Washington, DC in 2026?
The benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averages $610 a month before subsidies, and the cheapest bronze plan $505 (KFF analysis of CMS data). That's up 6% from 2025.
How much does health insurance cost for a 60-year-old in Washington, DC?
About $1,313 a month for the benchmark silver plan before subsidies, using the District's own age curve.
Is there a penalty for not having health insurance in Washington, DC?
Yes. The District requires residents to have coverage. For tax year 2024 the penalty is $795 per adult and $397.50 per child (up to $2,385 a household), or 2.5% of household income above the tax filing threshold if that is more, capped at the District's average bronze-plan premium.