• Aetna
• Assurant
• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

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• GoldenRule
• Kaiser Permanente

• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
• Humana

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• Kaiser Permanente
• United Healthcare AARP
• WellCare
• Medicare Plans in District Of Columbia

Finding Individual Washington DC Health Insurance Coverage

If you are looking for health coverage only for yourself, your best option will likely be to find a group health plan, such as one often offered through by an employer, or through membership in an organization such as a church, trade union, or professional association. If you are unable to find group coverage, you may be able to purchase an individual policy directly from a carrier. However, individual coverage can be more expensive and harder to qualify for than group coverage.

Many employers offer health insurance as a benefit to their employees. Most of the offered insurance packages extend coverage to spouses and dependent children. Health insurance purchased through an employer is typically the easiest to qualify for and is often the most affordable option.

Employees are typically eligible to join a plan on their date of hire. If you do not join within 30 days of the time you first become eligible, you may have to wait until the next "open enrollment" period. Group plans have an open enrollment period each year, which lasts for 30 days. Newborn children may always be added within 31 days of birth regardless of any open enrollment period requirements.

There are several reasons why insurance plans offered by your employer should be considered:

• Covered benefits under employer-sponsored group health plans tend to be comprehensive, including prescription drug benefits and relatively low cost sharing;
• Coverage is subsidized because employers tend to pay most of the premium and because employer-sponsored health benefits enjoy federal income tax subsidies;
• Employer-sponsored group health plan coverage is subject to consumer protections under federal and state law.

Check with your employer to find out whether group coverage is available in your workplace. If health insurance coverage is available and you choose to elect it, you should receive a benefit plan summary explaining what will be included in your health plan.