State Expansions: District of Columbia
In 2001, in order to expand coverage for non-disabled, childless adults, Washington, DC created the DC HealthCare Alliance, a program that provides limited coverage to this population through hospitals and community clinics. The program is available to adults with incomes up to 200 percent of poverty ($20,800 for an individual in 2008).
In 2006, DC expanded income eligibility for Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) benefits to 300 percent of poverty ($20,630 for an individual in 2007). QMB benefits help low-income individuals pay for Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments. People who are eligible for QMB benefits are also automatically eligible for Medicare Part D low-income subsidies. For more information, see Good Ideas: How Medicaid Agencies Can Help People Enroll in Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidies.
Effective April 2007, DC expanded Medicaid and SCHIP eligibility to children with family incomes up to 300 percent of poverty ($51,510 for a family of three in 2007). The District also added dental care to its Medicaid benefit package for adults.
In 2008, the District passed new legislation establishing Healthy DC, which provides subsidize coverage for residents with incomes up to 400 percent of poverty ($70,400 for a family of 3 in 2008) who either have no coverage, or have received an unaffordable offer of coverage from their employer. The law limits premiums to 3 percent of income and sets a floor on benefits. Healthy DC is scheduled for implementation in July 2009.
The District repealed its law that required one carrier to guarantee issuance of policies (selling to everyone regardless of health). Though the carrier has agreed to continue to sell policies to all for the time being, the District is still grappling with how to serve the high-risk population. The city is also investigating the finances of its not-for-profit insurer to determine what charitable services that insurer should offer to the community.
District of Columbia Expansion Resources
District of Columbia in the News
- District of Columbia: District Leads Nation in Health Insurance Assistance (District Chronicles, August 3, 2008)
- District Sues Carefirst, Says Provider Must Donate Millions (Washington Post, June 25, 2008)
- District Sues CareFirst to Enforce Charitable Obligation (Press Release, Office of the District of Columbia Attorney General, June 24, 2008)
- D.C. Plan Could Aid Uninsured (Washington Post, March 29, 2008)
- District Lacking in Access to Care (Washington Post, January 31, 2008)
For general resources on state expansions, see Other Resources.
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