The Cheapest (and Best) Health Insurance in Baltimore, MD (2024)

Besides location, your age, the number of people included in your plan and the plan type affect health insurance costs. MoneyGeek evaluated marketplace data to find the best and cheap health insurance companies in Baltimore.

MoneyGeek ranked companies based on customer service data from the National Commission for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), plan choices and affordability. To find the best plan, it’s important to shop around and compare providers and plan types.

When shopping for health insurance, a company’s affordability, customer service and plan options should all be considered. Based on these criteria, MoneyGeek ranked CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield as the best cheap health insurance provider in Baltimore. Its high MoneyGeek score of 85 out of 100 was primarily due to its affordability and customer service rating.

Based on MoneyGeek’s research, Kaiser Permanente is the second-best cheap health insurance provider in Baltimore. The insurer received a MoneyGeek score of 72 out of 100 for providing exceptional customer service at a relatively affordable cost.

The cost of your health insurance is based on how you and your chosen provider split the cost of care. Rates may also vary within providers between states and cities.

While cheap health insurance will save you money, you may receive poor customer service or have fewer provider options. If your main goal is cutting costs, you should be aware of how premiums and maximum out-of-pocket payments (MOOP) relate. Generally, plans with a lower monthly premium feature a high MOOP. Your plan’s deductible, copayment and co-insurance will also impact the overall cost of your care.

The Expanded Bronze tier, which offers coverage and cost between Bronze and Silver tiers, is available through select insurance companies. The policies belonging to this tier offer more protection than Bronze plans by covering at least one major service before you start paying the deductible.

Age is one of the most important factors that affects the cost of health insurance. Older individuals typically pay a higher monthly premium since they’re more likely to require medical care.

The least expensive plans are typically Bronze or Expanded Bronze plans. Before enrolling in one of these plans, you should consider the provider’s network. If your preferred providers aren’t included, you may pay more for out-of-network services.

The table below details the cheapest health insurance companies in Baltimore by age for Bronze plan policies.

There is no such thing as the ideal health insurance policy. The perfect health insurance provider and plan in Baltimore will be unique to you based on your medical coverage needs and budget.

For instance, a high-deductible plan with a low premium can be perfect if you don’t expect many medical expenses. However, paying a higher premium may be beneficial to lower your possible out-of-pocket costs if you anticipate significant health care costs.

Financial support may be available to those seeking health insurance and have low income. In 2022, the American Rescue Plan waived the federal poverty level (FPL) cap on subsidies, which means that more people will be eligible for subsidies.

If you don't qualify for health insurance subsidies because of your income, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are other options. In order to qualify for Medicaid, a household's annual income must be between 100% and 150% percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), depending on the state.

The cheapest health insurance plan in Baltimore may not necessarily be the best for you. Low-premium plans with high deductibles may result in higher out-of-pocket expenses if you unexpectedly require additional health care.

Below, MoneyGeek answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the best medical insurance in Baltimore to aid in your decision-making process.