Best Cheap Health Insurance in Maryland (2025)
Kaiser Permanente has the best health insurance in Maryland. Silver plans start at $390 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in Maryland
Aetna is leaving Maryland
Aetna will leave the Maryland health marketplace at the end of 2025. If you're a current Aetna customer, you'll have to switch to a new company when open enrollment starts (Nov. 1 to Jan. 15).
Kaiser Permanente is a good alternative to Aetna because Kaiser has cheap rates and a strong reputation for customer service. Those who want the cheapest rates should consider UnitedHealthcare.
Cheapest health insurance companies in Maryland
UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente and Aetna have the most affordable health insurance plans in Maryland, with Silver plans starting at $362 per month before discounts.
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Affordable health insurance in Maryland
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $362–$369 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $390–$425 |
| Aetna | $396–$414 |
| WellPoint | $397–$416 |
- UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has the cheapest health insurance in Maryland, with Silver plans starting at $362 per month. Whether you want a Silver or Gold plan, UHC sells the cheapest option in every county in Maryland. The UHC Silver Value plan is the second-most-popular plan in Maryland, with almost 17,000 enrollees in 2025.
- CareFirst, a Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) company, has the most popular health plans in Maryland. Roughly 6 in 10 Maryland residents have CareFirst health insurance. The BlueChoice HMO Value Gold plan is the most popular plan in the state. More than 18,000 people in Maryland chose the BlueChoiceHMO Value Gold plan in 2025.
Best health insurance companies in Maryland
Kaiser Permanente offers the best health insurance in Maryland.
Kaiser Permanente has a perfect 5-out-of-5-star plan quality rating from HealthCare.gov. Star ratings measure coverage quality, customer satisfaction and plan management.
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Best-rated health insurance companies in Maryland
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | 5.0 | |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4.0 | |
| Aetna | NA | |
| WellPoint | NA | |
| CareFirst BCBS | 5.0 |
Kaiser Permanente is unusual because it only covers medical services at Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics, unless you have a medical emergency. If you'd rather not go to one of their facilities located in the Baltimore or Washington, D.C., areas, then choose health insurance from CareFirst, which has a larger network of doctors and hospitals.
Best doctor network in Maryland: CareFirst
CareFirst is a good choice in Maryland if you want more flexibility about your doctors and don't mind paying more for insurance. CareFirst is part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) network, which means customers have access to the largest network of doctors in the nation.
CareFirst sells plans using two company names: CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and CareFirst BlueChoice.
- The plans from CareFirst BCBS are more expensive because they let you see any doctor and still have some coverage. These are called PPO plans.
- CareFirst BlueChoice only sells HMO plans. These plans are cheaper, but you have to see certain doctors to have coverage, and you will need a referral before you see a specialist.
The downside is that CareFirst has a high rate of complaints. That means you have a higher chance of issues with getting claims paid or medical care approved.
How much is health insurance in Maryland?
Health insurance in Maryland costs an average of $412 per month at full price or an average of $112 per month after discounts.
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- In Maryland, Gold and Silver plans have roughly identical monthly costs. Get a Gold plan with its better benefits if your income is above about $40,000 for an individual or $78,000 for a family of four. But if your income is lower, choose a Silver plan, because you'll qualify for a savings program called cost-sharing reductions (CSRs).
- Medical insurance gets more expensive as you age. Costs rise slowly when you're younger before climbing rapidly as you enter middle age. A 60-year-old in Maryland pays more than twice as much as a 40-year-old for the same level of coverage.
- Higher plan tiers typically have more expensive monthly rates than lower plan tiers. But you pay less when you visit the doctor with higher plan tiers.
Get cheap medical insurance in Maryland
Marylanders with Obamacare plans pay an average of $112 per month for coverage after discounts.
About 8 in 10 people who have health insurance through the Maryland state marketplace qualify for discounts, called subsidies or premium tax credits. The size of your discount depends on your household income: the less you make, the larger your discount.
To qualify for discounts, you need to earn between $15,606 and $60,240 per year as a single person (between $31,200 and $124,800 for a family of four). You can apply your discounted rate to any Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum plan bought through Maryland Health Connection. If you qualify for Medicaid, you can't get tax credits.
Affordable Maryland health insurance plans by city
UnitedHealthcare has the most affordable Silver health plans in Baltimore, at $362 per month on average.
UnitedHealthcare sells the cheapest Gold and Silver plans in every county in Maryland. That includes large cities like Frederick, Gaithersburg and Rockville.
Cheapest health insurance plans by MD county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Allegany | UHC Silver Copay Focus | $362 |
| Anne Arundel | UHC Silver Copay Focus | $362 |
| Baltimore | UHC Silver Copay Focus | $362 |
| Baltimore City | UHC Silver Copay Focus | $362 |
| Calvert | UHC Silver Copay Focus | $362 |
Cheapest Silver plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by level of coverage
The best health insurance level for you depends on the amount of medical care you need and your financial situation.
Platinum plans: Best for expensive medical issues
| Platinum plans pay for about 90% of your medical care. |
In Maryland, Platinum plans cost $470 per month and have a $0 deductible, on average.
Platinum health insurance plans are a good option if you need a lot of expensive medical care. For example, a Platinum plan might make financial sense if you have a serious illness.
While these plans have high monthly rates, you'll pay very little when you visit the doctor.
Gold plans: Best if you visit the doctor frequently
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
Gold plans in Maryland cost $411 per month and have a $950 deductible, on average.
In Maryland, Gold plans and Silver plans have similar average monthly rates. Gold plans are supposed to cost more than Silver plans. However, insurance companies in Maryland have raised the price of Silver plans because Silver plans are eligible for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions.
Cost-sharing reductions help you pay for the costs you're responsible for when you visit the hospital. That means you're usually better off with a Silver plan that has CSRs. But Gold plans are always a better choice if you don't qualify for cost-sharing reductions.
Silver plans: Best for average medical needs
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
In Maryland, Silver plans cost $412 per month and have a $3,659 deductible, on average.
Silver health plans offer a balance between average rates and middle-of-the-road costs you're responsible for paying when you visit the doctor. Silver plans are a good choice if you only visit the doctor a few times a year and you earn a low income.
Silver plans in Maryland cost about the same as Gold plans. For a Silver plan to make sense financially, you need to qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions. Maryland residents are eligible for CSRs if they earn between $15,060 and $37,650 per year ($31,200 to $78,000 per year for a family of four).
On average, Silver plans have a much larger deductible than Gold plans. You would pay about $2,700 more on average before coverage starts with a Silver plan than with a Gold plan if you don't qualify for cost-sharing reductions.
Bronze plans: Best if you're young and healthy
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
In Maryland, Bronze plans cost $313 per month and have a $6,568 health insurance deductible, on average.
Bronze plans are a good option if you're in good health and you can afford a large, unexpected medical bill. These plans have affordable rates, but you'll have to pay more money before your coverage starts. It's not a good idea to buy a Bronze plan if you can't afford to cover your deductible from your savings.
It's important that you have enough in your savings account to comfortably pay for your deductible if you don't qualify for cost-sharing reductions.
Free and affordable health coverage if you have a low income
You may qualify for free coverage or extra discounts if you live in Maryland and earn a low income.
Medicaid: Free health insurance for Marylanders who earn a low income
If you live in Maryland and you earn around $21,000 per year or less (under about $44,000 per year for a family of four), you may be eligible for free government health insurance, called Medicaid.
Pregnant women, parents with young children and the disabled may qualify for Medicaid with higher incomes.
Silver plans with cost-sharing reductions: Best if you earn a low income but can't get Medicaid
| Silver plans will pay 74% to 90% of your medical costs if you have a low income. |
You may qualify for extra discounts, called cost-sharing reductions, if you have a Silver plan and you make between $15,060 and $37,650 per year (between $31,200 and $78,000 per year for a family of four).
CSRs help you pay for the costs you're responsible for when you visit the hospital including your deductible, copays and coinsurance.
You can reduce your out-of-pocket costs by up to 90% with CSRs. That means a Silver plan with cost-sharing reductions is usually a better deal than a Gold plan.
Are health insurance rates going up in MD?
Health insurance in Maryland costs 8% more per month, on average, in 2025 compared to 2024.
Platinum plans had the biggest increase, costing 10% more this year compared to last year. Bronze, Silver and Gold plans had more modest increases but are still more expensive in 2025. Rates are likely going to be even higher in 2026.
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $269 | - |
| 2023 | $281 | 4% |
| 2024 | $291 | 4% |
| 2025 | $313 | 8% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Bronze
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $269 | - |
| 2023 | $281 | 4% |
| 2024 | $291 | 4% |
| 2025 | $313 | 8% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Silver
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $365 | - |
| 2023 | $385 | 5% |
| 2024 | $384 | 0% |
| 2025 | $412 | 7% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Gold
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $351 | - |
| 2023 | $374 | 7% |
| 2024 | $384 | 3% |
| 2025 | $411 | 7% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Platinum
Year | Cost | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $367 | - |
| 2023 | $403 | 10% |
| 2024 | $429 | 6% |
| 2025 | $470 | 10% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
Why is health insurance expensive in MD in 2026?
The main cause of higher medical insurance rates in 2026 is the rising cost of health care.
When it costs more to go to the doctor or get medications, health insurance companies have to pay more to cover the extra cost. To make up for that, they raise rates for everyone. Health insurance companies in Maryland are asking permission to raise rates by an average of 14%.
The high cost and widespread use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy is also causing health insurance rates to go up.
Changes to discounts, called subsidies, could also make health insurance more expensive in 2026. Starting in 2021, people with low incomes could get bigger discounts, called "enhanced subsidies." But these extra discounts are going to expire at the end of the year. Unless they're extended by Congress, the discounts won't be as big in 2026. That means you'll pay more for health insurance even if you still get discounts.
What to do if your rate goes up in 2026
- Shop around and get quotes. Look at all your other options on Maryland Health Connection, Maryland's state marketplace. You might find another company that has cheaper rates and good coverage. Just make sure your doctor accepts the plan before you buy it, unless you're willing to switch doctors.
- See if you get discounts. If you have a low income or your income has recently changed, check to see if you get subsidies. Even if the discounts are smaller in 2026, they'll still save you money if you qualify.
- Change to a lower-tier plan. Going to a lower-tier plan, like Bronze, can help you get a cheaper monthly rate. But Bronze plans are usually only a good idea if you don't go to the doctor often and you have the money to pay for more of your health care bills. If you need help saving for medical costs, you can open an HSA. That's a new perk you can get with Bronze plans in 2026.
- Check if you can get Medicaid. If you have a very low income (under about $21,000 per year as an individual), you can get Medicaid in Maryland. Medicaid offers free or very cheap health care if you qualify.
Maryland insurance marketplace: Maryland Health Connection
All Obamacare health plans in Maryland offer certain important benefits and protections for customers.
- You don't need to meet your annual deductible before coverage starts for annual check-ups and preventive services.
- Companies can't consider your health history when setting rates or approving coverage.
- All marketplace plans have a limit on how much you'll spend on medical care in a single year, called an out-of-pocket maximum.
Short-term health insurance in Maryland
You can buy short-term health insurance for up to three months at a time in Maryland. You can't renew your short-term plan.
Short-term plans can help you bridge a temporary coverage gap. For example, short-term coverage might be a good idea if you miss open enrollment.
Keep in mind that if you lose your current insurance, you may qualify for a special enrollment period, which lets you get marketplace coverage outside open enrollment.
Pros of short-term health insurance in MD
Cons of short-term health insurance in MD
Frequently asked questions
Who has the best health insurance in Maryland?
Kaiser Permanente has the best health plans in Maryland. Kaiser has a strong reputation for customer satisfaction and some of the cheapest plans in Maryland.
What's the cheapest health insurance in MD?
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has the cheapest Gold and Silver health insurance in Maryland. UHC has the most affordable rates in every Maryland county including Baltimore City.
How much is health insurance in Maryland per month?
Health insurance in Maryland costs $412 per month on average. The amount you'll pay for coverage depends on your age, plan tier, where you live, the discounts you qualify for and the company you choose.
Is $200 a month expensive for health insurance?
$200 per month for health insurance is cheap in Maryland. A 40-year-old pays $412 per month for a Silver plan, on average, and a 21-year-old pays an average of $323 per month for the same coverage. You could get a plan for $200 per month or cheaper if you get discounts for having a low income.
Methodology
Maryland health insurance rate data for 2025 is from Maryland's state marketplace, Maryland Health Connection. Rates are based on a 40-year-old with a Silver plan, unless otherwise noted. Costs for plans with subsidies are for everyone who shopped for a plan during 2024 open enrollment and got advanced premium tax credits (APTCs) on their bills.
ValuePenguin assigned rankings for each health insurance company in Maryland by reviewing rates, coverage offerings, customer satisfaction and unique features. Our experts used the rankings to choose the best health insurance companies in Maryland.
Info about rate increase requests from Maryland health insurance companies comes from Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.
Other sources include KFF, S&P Global Capital IQ, the NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) and the Maryland Department of Health.
Senior Writer
Talon Abernathy is a ValuePenguin Senior Writer who specializes in health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. He's also contributed to other insurance verticals including home, renters, auto, motorcycle and flood insurance.
Talon came to ValuePenguin in 2023. Since his arrival, he's helped to expand the site's health insurance-related content offerings. He enjoys helping readers understand the ins and outs of America's all too complicated health insurance landscape.
Before coming to ValuePenguin, Talon worked as a freelance writer. His prior work has touched on a broad range of personal finance-related topics including credit-building strategies, small business incorporation tactics and creative ways to save for retirement.
Insurance tip
In many parts of the country, you can qualify for a free Silver health insurance plan if you meet certain income requirements. Government subsidies in the form of premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions may mean you'll pay nothing for coverage.
Expertise
- Health insurance
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners insurance
- Renters insurance
- Auto and motorcycle insurance
Referenced by
- The Miami Herald
- Money.com
- MSN
- Nasdaq
- The Sacramento Bee
- Yahoo! Finance
Education
- BA, University of Washington
- Certificate in Copyediting, UC San Diego
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.
