Maryland Health Insurance 2026

Maryland experienced a market crisis in 2017–2018 when CareFirst proposed large premium increases due to CSR payment uncertainty. The state responded by implementing a Section 1332 reinsurance waiver that took effect in 2019 and has since produced dramatic premium reductions. Silver premiums that might otherwise top $600/month for a 40-year-old now average $370–$400. The Maryland Health Connection marketplace offers 45–70 plans, with CareFirst BCBS and Kaiser Permanente as the dominant carriers. Network adequacy is generally strong in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, though Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore have fewer options.

Maryland expanded Medicaid in 2014 and operates a robust HealthChoice managed care program. The Maryland Health Connection is a state-based exchange with its own technology platform. Maryland has also pursued state-funded subsidies for certain populations and maintains strong navigator and enrollment assistance programs. The state's proximity to federal workers in the DC metro area creates unique insurance dynamics, with many residents having access to the Federal Employee Health Benefit program as an alternative.