Updated: May 22, 2024
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Best Health InsuranceMarylandBest Health Insurance in Maryland
Why Trust MoneyGeek? We downloaded plan data for Maryland directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). MoneyGeek’s scoring methodology balances costs, claims approval and plan types to find the best providers in the state.
Plan data was updated with the CMS exchange data released in October 2023 for the 2024 enrollment period.
CareFirst BlueChoice has the highest MoneyGeek score of 69, offering the best health insurance in Maryland. The provider has good plan affordability, the lowest out-of-pocket costs and better-than-average claim denials.
In Maryland, we evaluated a total of 14 plans for this analysis, including both HMO and PPO plans.
Low MOOP costs
Few claims denied
Limited plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Maryland is CareFirst BlueChoice. The provider offers Silver HMO plans at an average plan rate of $412 per month and an average MOOP cost of $7,600. They also have a denial rate of 17%, lower than much of the competition.
CareFirst BlueChoice provides Silver HMO plans. HMO plans typically require choosing a primary care physician and getting referrals to see specialists.
Plan Recommendation
MoneyGeek recommends the following Silver plan:
Kaiser Permanente is the best health insurance in Maryland for low out-of-pocket costs, with a MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100. The provider offers the cheapest plan options in the state. It also has low out-of-pocket costs and better than-average-denial rates for claims.
For this analysis, we looked at 13 Gold HMO plans, one Platinum HMO plan and one Gold PPO plan in Maryland.
Highly affordable premium rates
Low MOOP costs
Very low claim denial frequency
Limited variety of plan types offered
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Maryland for low out-of-pocket costs is Kaiser Permanente. They offer an average plan rate of $390 and an average MOOP cost of $6,410. Kaiser Permanente has a denial rate of 8.45%, which is lower than most of the competition.
They provide four Gold plans and one Platinum plan, levels that aim for low MOOP costs. These are HMO plans, which means you need to stick to their network of doctors and hospitals.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following Gold and Platinum plans:
Kaiser Permanente is the best cheap provider for cheap health insurance in Maryland, with a MoneyGeek score of 72. The company provides more affordable plan options, denies fewer claims compared with others and has a variety of health plans.
For our analysis in Maryland, we looked at 14 Silver plans, comprising 13 Silver HMO plans and one Silver PPO plan. MoneyGeek placed more importance on plans with lower monthly costs, but these plans usually mean you'll pay more yourself when you need care.
Denies very few claims
Offers affordable premium rates
Out-of-pocket costs may be higher
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best cheap health insurance in Maryland is Kaiser Permanente. They have an average plan rate of $386 and an average MOOP cost of $8,388. They also have a denial rate of 8.5%, which is lower than most of the competition.
They offer four Silver plans, which helps Maryland residents find budget-friendly health care options. All of Kaiser Permanente's Silver plans are HMOs. HMO plans often offer lower premiums and require members to select a primary care physician within the network.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following cheap Silver plans:
Kaiser Permanente provides the best health insurance in Maryland for young adults with a MoneyGeek score of 83 out of 100. They offer health plans with lower than average costs, out-of-pocket expenses and fewer claim denials compared with other providers. Young adults under the age of 30 have the option to choose Catastrophic plans, which generally involve lower monthly payments.
For this evaluation, we looked at 15 Bronze plans and two Catastrophic plans available to young adults in Maryland.
Affordable premium rates
Low out-of-pocket costs
Very few claims denied
Diverse plan options
Kaiser Permanente is MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Maryland for young adults. The insurer has three Bronze plans and one Catastrophic plan. They offer an average plan rate of $178 and an average MOOP cost of $8,888. They also have a denial rate of about 8%, which is lower than most of the competition.
Kaiser Permanente offers HMO plans, which typically require members to stay within a network of doctors and hospitals. HMO plans can encourage easier coordination of care.
Plan Recommendations
MoneyGeek recommends the following plans for young adults:
Health insurance companies have different plans. The best plan types in Maryland are shown here:
MoneyGeek's recommendations use only Silver plans. Silver plans are good if you only visit the doctor sporadically, and they help you pay less when you do so.
Maryland has 13 Silver HMO plans and one Silver PPO plan available.
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Maryland for Silver PPO plans is CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. They offer an average plan rate of $526 and an average MOOP cost of $7,600. The provider denies fewer claims than average.
Silver PPO plans let you choose your own doctors and you don't need a referral to see specialists. They are quite popular but might cost a bit more than other types, like HMO plans. This can be great if you want more choices, but it's important to think about the costs.
Plan Recommendation
We suggest the following Silver PPO plan from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield:
MoneyGeek's top pick for the best health insurance in Maryland for Silver HMO plans is Kaiser Permanente. They offer an average plan rate of $386 and an average MOOP cost of $8,388. The provider has a better-than-average denial rate of about 8%.
HMO plans usually have lower monthly costs, but you need to stay in the network unless it's an emergency, and you must get a referral to see specialists. If you find the the network limits acceptable, you can save money with these plans.
Plan Recommendations
We suggest the following Silver HMO plans from Kaiser Permanente:
The best health insurance plan in Maryland is contingent upon your health care requirements and budget. Achieving an optimal balance between affordable monthly premiums and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses is crucial. We evaluate key factors to look at while buying a health insurance policy.
Understand when a health insurance plan will cover you
When you have health insurance, the doctors and hospitals that agree to work with your insurance are called "in-network." "Out-of-network" refers to doctors or hospitals outside of this network. With some plans, if you go "out-of-network," the insurance might not pay as much or at all.
Some plans let you see any doctor you want, but others delineate which doctors your plan will cover. Some plans give you more choice and might pay even if you see a doctor not in their network, but there might be extra costs. In Maryland, there are 13 HMO plans and just one PPO plan.
Weigh the cost of premiums vs. the cost of care
When choosing health insurance, consider the monthly premium and the MOOP cost. Some health plans cost less each month but you might have to pay a lot if you get sick. If you go to the doctor frequently, paying more each month could make other medical costs less.
For example, the BlueChoice HMO Value Silver $4,500 VisionPlus plan has a MOOP of $7,600. This plan's monthly cost is $412. The ideal plan has a reasonable monthly premium and a low MOOP, as well as great health care providers in the network.
Maryland residents over 65 years of age or who have a qualifying illness or disability might be eligible for Medicare. This is a federal program offering medical assistance but may require payment for some services. The services included are:
If your Medicare policy covers Part A and Part B, private health insurance companies offer Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) in Maryland to cover some Medicare costs. Maryland's Medicare Advantage is a private Medicare-approved health and prescription drug plan. These "bundled" plans cover Parts A, B and D.
Medicaid is a free-of-charge alternative available to Maryland residents who satisfy the eligibility criteria of the program. In Maryland, if your income is less than 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, you could be eligible for Medicaid coverage.
Searching for health insurance in Maryland may lead to questions regarding costs and accessibility. To help you find the right plan for your needs, we've answered some frequently asked questions.
CareFirst BlueChoice is rated as the best health insurer in Maryland for 2024. Finding the best health insurance in Maryland will depend on your specific needs and budget.
Health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses must be evaluated while buying health insurance in Maryland. In-network and out-of-network costs are handled differently depending on the type of plan selected. HMOs have lower premiums but a smaller network than PPOs, while PPOs offer greater flexibility but cost more overall. Take the time to go over the specifics of the plan to make sure it will work for you.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.
