District of Columbia
Cheapest ACA plans in Washington, District of Columbia for 2026
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Washington is in District of Columbia County, District of Columbia. 3 carriers sell 2026 ACA plans on DC Health Link for residents of District of Columbia County, and the cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in starts at $583/month before any subsidy. Carriers are licensed and rated at the county level, so the plans below cover everyone in District of Columbia County, including Washington.
Cheapest plans by metal tier
Lowest 2026 monthly premium for a single 40-year-old in Washington (District of Columbia County), on-exchange, before any subsidy. Per-age figures derived from the CMS QHP Landscape file using the HHS standardized age-rating curve (45 CFR 147.102).
| Tier | Cheapest age 40 monthly | Plans in District of Columbia County |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | $322 | 2 |
| Expanded Bronze | $583 | 7 |
| Silver | $652 | 5 |
| Gold | $749 | 10 |
| Platinum | $958 | 3 |
The actual cheapest Bronze plan in Washington
CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. BlueChoice HMO HSA Bronze 6350
$583/moFor a family of four (two 40-year-olds and two kids under 14): CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. BlueChoice HMO HSA Bronze 6350 at $1,823/month before subsidies.
Carriers selling 2026 plans in Washington
3 carriers sell 2026 plans on DC Health Link for District of Columbia County residents. 27 plans total in District of Columbia County.
| Carrier | On-exchange plans |
|---|---|
| Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc. | 14 |
| CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. | 7 |
| GHMSI, Inc. | 6 |
What you'll actually pay in Washington
Estimated monthly net premium for the cheapest Bronze plan above ($583/mo before subsidy) on DC Health Link, after federal APTC. APTC is computed against the District of Columbia Countybenchmark Silver per 26 USC §36B. Approximate; exact net varies by plan's EHB% and child-rate structure.
Single 40-year-old
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | 160% | $607/mo | $0/mo |
| $40,000 | 256% | $417/mo | $166/mo |
| $60,000 | 383% | $206/mo | $377/mo |
| $100,000 | 639% | — | $583/mo |
Family of 4 (two 40-year-olds, two children)
| Annual income | FPL % | Federal APTC | Cheapest Bronze net |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | 124% | — | Medicaid likely |
| $80,000 | 249% | $1,640/mo | $183/mo |
| $130,000 | 404% | — | $1,823/mo |
| $200,000 | 622% | — | $1,823/mo |
FPL = Federal Poverty Level. APTC = Advance Premium Tax Credit (the federal subsidy). Off-exchange and Catastrophic plans are not APTC-eligible. Enter your real income on the home page to see plan-specific net premium with the per-plan EHB-percent cap applied.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest ACA plan in Washington, District of Columbia for 2026?
The cheapest Bronze plan a 40-year-old can enroll in is CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. BlueChoice HMO HSA Bronze 6350 at $583 per month before subsidies. Plans sell through DC Health Link. Washington is in District of Columbia County, District of Columbia; carriers are licensed and rated at the county level. Data refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z.
Does DC use Healthcare.gov?
No. The District of Columbia runs its own state-based exchange, DC Health Link, launched October 2013. Healthcare.gov does not serve DC.
Has DC expanded Medicaid?
Yes, effective January 1, 2014, DC was among the first jurisdictions to adopt ACA Medicaid expansion. DC Medicaid also covers adults to 215% FPL, higher than the 138% FPL federal expansion floor, so the coverage gap does not exist in the District.
What are DC Healthy Families and DC Alliance?
DC Healthy Families is a DC-funded program for low-income families who may not qualify for Medicaid under federal rules. DC Alliance provides coverage to DC residents who are ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status. Both are administered by the DC Department of Health Care Finance, not through DC Health Link enrollment.
More District of Columbia pricing
Sources
- DC Health Link for SBE enrollment, OEP dates, and APTC application.
- DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) for rate review, carrier filings, and consumer guidance.
- DC Department of Health Care Finance: Medicaid for DC Medicaid, DC Healthy Families, and DC Alliance eligibility.
- KFF: DC State Health Facts for Medicaid expansion, enrollment, and benchmark premium context.
Plan year 2026, last refreshed 2026-04-19T08:08:55.462Z. Full pricing pipeline + regulatory references at methodology; ACA terminology in the glossary.