District of Columbia program
Children's coverage above the Medicaid line (part of DC Healthy Families)
Children's health insurance funding [CHIP] sits inside DC Medicaid. You use the same application.
What it is
Children's health insurance funding [CHIP] sits inside DC Medicaid. You use the same application.
DC handles CHIP through Medicaid. The benefits office screens children's coverage on one application. You do not need to hunt for a separate children's plan.
Eligibility rules
- 0 through 18.
- The same published child table as DC Healthy Families; no separate CHIP band was published.
- District of Columbia.
- 12 months for a child under 19.
What you get
- The same care benefits as DC Healthy Families.
- One application for both children's coverage categories.
One coverage route
- Children under 19 receive 12 months of continuous eligibility after approval.
- Federal rules bar a waiting period after loss of group coverage, Medicaid or another affordability program.
- DC runs CHIP-funded children’s coverage through Medicaid, using one application. The benefits office can check every children’s category and confirm any premium, enrollment fee or other charge for your child’s age and coverage.
If you decide to apply
- Ask the District benefits office to check every children's category on your District Direct application.
- Have your child's age, current household income and insurance information ready.
Economic Security Administration, on the same application as DC Healthy Families: 202-727-5355 · Official page ↗
Good to know
A separate CHIP application is not the route in DC.
Federal background: CHIP helps fund children’s coverage through the District Medicaid application.
Official sources
- DHCF — Health Coverage Changes in 2025
- DHCF — Infants & Children (0–20)
- CMS — Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP Coverage
- eCFR — 42 CFR 457.805
- Official source reviewed September 17, 2026 (A Q20)
- Official source reviewed September 17, 2026 (A Q20)
- Official source reviewed September 17, 2026 (A Q20)
“Does the same application check all of DC’s children’s coverage? Could you help us understand any costs or limits before we decide?”
Why I’m asking: I want to know that our child has been considered for all the coverage available through one application.
More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules
Who does what
The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.
You
Apply once and ask the worker to check every children's category.
Your social worker
The social worker can confirm that DC has no separate children's plan to chase.
The care team
Records and letters when the application asks for them.
- Who decides
- The Economic Security Administration, on the same application.
- Ask the agency
- “DC runs its children's health insurance inside Medicaid. Can you confirm my child has been screened for every children's category on this application?”
How to apply
First step: Do not apply twice. Ask the worker at 202-727-5355 to confirm your child has been screened for every children's category.
- Talk with the social worker about whether one District Direct application should cover the relevant children’s categories.
- Ask the worker to screen the child for every children's category on that one application.
Official application / program page ↗
Where it starts: districtdirect.dc.gov or 202-727-5355
What to gather
The diagnosis letter, the child’s insurance card, and the last two pay stubs cover most applications. The official page lists the rest.
How long: The same decision time as the main application.
Watch out
- Advice written for other states sends parents hunting for a second children's plan and a premium table.
The numbers and the rules
The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.
What it is worth
One application covers both parts. Under-19 coverage runs 12 months once approved.
- $12 — Continuous coverage for a child under 19 once approved
Covers: The same benefits as DC Healthy Families
Legal protection: Federal rules bar a waiting period before enrolling a child who has just lost group coverage, Medicaid or another affordability programme
What it costs the family: No DC premium or enrolment fee was published. The bands and any fee schedule could not be read.
The eligibility facts, as published
- Age
- 0 through 18
- Income
- The same published child table as DC Healthy Families; no separate CHIP band was published
- Residency
- District of Columbia
- Continuous eligibility
- 12 months for a child under 19
The trap: Advice written for other states will send you looking for a separate children's plan and a premium table. Ask the District benefits office to check both parts of one application.
Where I read this
- DHCF — Health Coverage Changes in 2025 — DC Department of Health Care Finance, read September 10, 2026
- DHCF — Infants & Children (0–20) — DC Department of Health Care Finance, read September 10, 2026
- CMS — Continuous Eligibility for Medicaid and CHIP Coverage — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, read September 10, 2026
- eCFR — 42 CFR 457.805 — Office of the Federal Register, read September 10, 2026