Best Health Insurance in Washington, D.C.

For 40-year-olds buying Silver-tier HMO plans, Kaiser Permanente offers the best health insurance in Washington D.C.. Two carriers operate here. Kaiser’s HMO runs $607 monthly, saving you $828 yearly compared to Blue Cross Blue Shield's $676 PPO rate. But staying in Kaiser's network means every specialist visit goes through its doctors, and stepping outside costs you full price for prescriptions and emergency care. Blue Cross Blue Shield costs $69 more monthly but gives you any provider without referrals.

*Our picks are the best companies for 40-year-olds looking for Silver-tier plans.

Picking a metal tier means deciding when you want to pay: now or later. Bronze costs $516 monthly for 40-year-olds and Gold runs $684, but that $168 difference matters less than your deductible when you actually need a doctor, specialist appointments, or prescriptions filled every month because Gold plans cover more of those costs upfront before you hit your deductible. Platinum suits people managing chronic conditions.

*These rates reflect premiums for 40-year-olds. Younger adults pay less, seniors pay more.

Your premium increases as you age. An 18-year-old pays $407 monthly for Silver HMO coverage, but a 60-year-old pays $1,306 for identical benefits because insurers price based on medical risk, and older adults pay higher costs for prescriptions, specialist visits and chronic condition management throughout the year.

*We based our picks on Silver-tier plans. Your actual rate depends on your ZIP code and health history.

Health insurance in Washington, D.C., costs between $534 and $942 monthly for a 40-year-old, depending on your metal tier and whether you choose an HMO or PPO. HMOs cost less per month than PPOs at each tier. Shop during open enrollment, as rates differ by hundreds of dollars annually between insurers offering the same coverage level.

Shopping smart means matching coverage to how you actually use health care. Compare monthly premiums against deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums to find plans that work when you're healthy and when you need doctors, prescriptions, or emergency care. Follow these steps to choose the right health insurance plan:

Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross Blue Shield are Washington, D.C.'s only available health insurers and both offer quality coverage options. Your best choice between them depends on your budget, preferred doctors and how often you need medical care. Compare plans from both insurers to find the right premium and out-of-pocket balance for your situation.

Below we've answered frequently asked questions about the best health insurance in the district:

Our Research Approach 

Washington, D.C., has just two health insurers: Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross Blue Shield. This means choosing the right plan type and metal tier matters more than shopping between companies. We reviewed all 2026 plans for ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Pricing reflects 40-year-olds unless specified. We examined Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers across HMO and PPO options. 

Our Scoring System 

Three cost factors determine rankings: 

• Monthly premium (60%): Your guaranteed recurring expense carries the most weight.
• Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): Caps your total yearly costs beyond premiums.
• Deductible (20%): What you pay before coverage starts. 
  

We normalized scores within each filter combination. For Silver HMO plans, the top-rated option receives 5.0 points. All others score relative to that benchmark. 

Why This Matters 

With limited insurer choice, your decision should focus on balancing monthly affordability against medical expenses. Our weighting shows which plan type and tier combinations offer better value from your available options.