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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center

District of Columbia

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 3, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in the District of Columbia, we recommend that you visit D.C.'s COVID-19 Recovery Resources or Food Resources.

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Description of Program and Relief

COVID-19 Benefits Offered by DC Health Link Providers, Special Open Enrollment Period for Uninsured, and COVID-19 Testing Coverage

DC Health Link’s website provides an exemplar list of benefits offered by DC Health Link providers including Aetna, CareFirst, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare. Specific questions are answered, including whether insurance will cover COVID-19 testing and whether co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles will be waived. Links are provided to more specific COVID-19 information, including a free nurse advice line and telehealth/telemedicine services.

Mayor Bowser’s office has also stated that there is a special enrollment period (“SEP”) to help DC residents that are currently uninsured obtain health insurance. Anyone who is uninsured can enroll here. This now also includes not only DC residents, but also employees of small businesses that purchase health insurance through the DC Health Link, these employees are eligible to apply during the SEP even if they have been declined coverage in the past. Dependents can also enroll. When enrolling, the employee will now see under “Have life changes?” an option called “COVID-19.” For more information about small business employees SEP click here.

Further, DC Health Link will not be terminating coverage for non-payment of premiums (so long as the first premium payment due on the policy was paid in full) during the District of Columbia’s Public Emergency and Public Health Emergency. This non-termination policy is automatically applied. Once the Public Health Emergency ends there will be a 60-day grace period to pay premiums. For more information click here.

As of April 28, 2020 DC Health Link is allowing premium deferrals for 60 days after the DC Public Health Emergency ends. This extension is automatic. Additionally, insurance companies must allow at least 12 months for employers to pay in installments any past due premiums. To assist with this, DC Health Link has implemented a policy that will automatically provide for those 12 months if payments cannot be made within the 60 day grace period. For more information click here.

Also note that as of August 24, 2020 all DC-licensed insurers will be required to cover COVID-19 testing for certain high risk residents. More information can be found here, and the full Order can be found here.

Government or Lead Agency

DC Health Link

Dates Available

Effective immediately

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

This webpage contains information relating to all DC Health Link individual and small group health insurance options at all coverage levels.

The SEP applies to DC residents who are currently uninsured and employees of small businesses that purchase health insurance coverage through DC Health Link.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

The new SEP will run through September 15, 2020

Contact for More Information

To contact DC Health Link, call 855-532-5465 or visit https://dchealthlink.com/help.

Click here for more information on COVID-19 provided by Mayor Bowser’s office.

List of Additional Information

Click here for more information on the new benefits, and click here for updates on new benefits

For answers to frequently asked questions please click here

Click here for additional information


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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