District of Columbia · Short-term plans
Short-term plans in District of Columbia
Looking for short-term health insurance in District of Columbia? Here is how this coverage lane works specifically for District of Columbia residents, what it costs, and how to get it.
Facts on this page checked Jan 15, 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
How it works here
Short-term plans, explained for District of Columbia.
Short-term health plans are available to District of Columbia residents as a temporary bridge — between jobs, after aging off a parent's plan, or while waiting for other coverage to begin.
These plans have low premiums but can deny pre-existing conditions, skip essential benefits, and impose caps. They are not ACA-compliant and not subsidy-eligible. State rules affect how long short-term plans can last in District of Columbia.
Treat a short-term plan as a stopgap, not a replacement for comprehensive coverage — especially if you have ongoing health needs.
District of Columbia facts
- Marketplace
- DC Health Link
- Medicaid expansion
- Adopted
- Uninsured rate
- ~3.0%
Open enrollment 2027
When District of Columbia can enroll.
- Opens
- Nov 1, 2026
- Sun
- For Jan 1 coverage
- Check the exchange
- DC Health Link sets this date
- Last day to enroll
- Jan 31, 2027
- Sun
District of Columbia runs its own exchange. These dates come from a secondary source (healthinsurance.org, Aug 2026). Confirm with DC Health Link before you rely on a date. Outside this window, a qualifying life event (a move, a new baby, losing other coverage) can open a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicare is different.Medicare’s annual enrollment runs Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026. For Medicare help, visit our sister site OLYRON Medicare or Medicare.gov.
Dates checked Oct 15, 2026. Sources: HealthCare.gov: dates and deadlines; CMS statement, Jul 27, 2026.
More in this state
Other coverage in District of Columbia.
- ACA Marketplace plansSubsidy-eligible major-medical plans sold on the exchange.
- Health sharingMember-funded medical cost sharing — not insurance.
- MedicareOriginal Medicare, Advantage, and Medigap for 65+ and eligible.
- MedicaidFree or low-cost coverage based on income and household.
- DentalStandalone and bundled dental coverage options.
- VisionEye exams, glasses, and contacts coverage.
- TelehealthVirtual primary and urgent care memberships.
Questions
Good questions, short answers.
Are short-term plans available in District of Columbia?
Short-term plans are sold in District of Columbia subject to state duration rules. They are limited-benefit and exclude pre-existing conditions, so they suit only brief, healthy gaps.
Do short-term plans cover pre-existing conditions in District of Columbia?
Generally no — short-term plans can deny or exclude pre-existing conditions. For ongoing needs, a Marketplace plan is the safer choice.
Sources
- HealthCare.gov — the official ACA Health Insurance Marketplace · reviewed 2026-01-15
- KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) — health policy research · reviewed 2026-01-15
- OLYRON HealthMatch editorial methodology — how we source and rate options · reviewed 2026-01-15
Before the rush
Ready to see plans in District of Columbia?
A licensed advisor can walk through the options where you live. Free, no obligation.
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