District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking is responsible for regulating all types of insurance sold in the District of Columbia - including health insurance policies.
If you are looking for health insurance coverage, they have lists of insurance agents and insurance companies licensed to do business in the District of Columbia. Go here to find out if your insurance company or agent is licensed to do business in the District of Columbia.
If you are having trouble resolving a claims dispute with your insurer, you can file a complaint with the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking. They have an online consumer complaint form here.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
810 First Street, NE, Suite 701
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202.727.8000
http://disr.dc.gov/disr/site/default.asp
U.S. Department of Labor
If you get your insurance through your job, your plan is also regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA). They make and enforce the rules that your employer must follow when offering health insurance coverage to employees - for example, your employer cannot single out an individual employee to exclude her from the plan because she (or one of her dependents) has a costly illness. Also, if there are 20 or more employees at your job, you should be offered COBRA continuation coverage when you leave your job. The EBSA works to make sure that all of this happens and your rights are protected.
If you have concerns about your employer's practices in administering your job-based health coverage - for example, if you think you should have been offered COBRA continuation coverage, but were not, or if you feel that you were wrongly terminated from your health plan - contact your regional EBSA office.
U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration
Washington District Office
1335 East-West Highway, Suite 200
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Elizabeth Bond - Supervisor
Tel 301.713.2000
Fax 301.713.2008
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/
Buying Individual Policies in the District of Columbia
All District of Columbia residents are entitled to purchase an individual health insurance policy through Carefirst Blue Cross Blue Shield. If you are rejected due to a pre-existing condition, be sure to ask for a "guaranteed issue" policy.
DC Healthy Families - the state Children's Health Insurance Program
DC Healthy Families provides health insurance coverage for children, young adult under age 19 who live alone, pregnant women, and parents/guardians whose family meets certain income guidelines.
DC Healthy Families
645 H Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 888.557.1116 OR 202.698.4200
http://dchealth.dc.gov/doh/cwp/view,a,1371,q,575879,dohNav_GID,1807.asp
Health Insurance Counseling Project
The Health Insurance Counseling Project provides free one-on-one counseling for Medicare beneficiaries with questions about any aspect of Medicare, including the new Part D prescription drug benefit, or Medigap coverage.
Health Insurance Counseling Project
George Washington University Law School
2136 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202.739.0668
http://dcoa.dc.gov/dcoa/cwp/view,a,3,q,523610,dcoaNav,|31411|.asp
DC Medicaid
Medicaid is a government program designed to help the poor and indigent obtain health care services. Pregnant women and children under age 19 who meet certain income requirements may be eligible for Medicaid coverage, along with aged, blind, and disabled individuals. For more information about eligibility, contact the District of Columbia Income Maintenance Administration.
DC Medicaid
Phone: 202.724.5506
http://www.dhs.dc.gov/dhs/cwp/view,a,3,Q,613294.asp
