Best Maryland Medicare Advantage Plans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a five-star quality rating system which MoneyGeek used to determine the best-rated, most widely available plans in Maryland. Our analysis also determined the best plans with and without drug coverage and those that minimize out-of-pocket expenses.

These are general recommendations. Although MoneyGeek has performed exhaustive research to identify the best plans in Maryland, the only way to find one that best fits your needs is to shop around. Remember to check that the hospitals and providers you use are in the network of the plan you purchase.

If you're not looking for a Medicare Advantage plan but want to cover out-of-pocket costs that your base Medicare plan doesn't cover, MoneyGeek also ranked the best Medicare Supplement Plans in Maryland.

When you base your search on your needs and preferences, you’ll find the best Medicare Advantage Plan in Maryland specific to you. For example, the best PPO plan with drug coverage in Maryland is UnitedHealthcare's AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 1. The plan offers seven of the most common benefits and a high CMS star rating.

Although more expensive than HMO plans, PPO plans offer much-needed flexibility and give you access to a broader network of providers. Furthermore, with a PPO plan, you don’t need a referral to see a specialist.

MoneyGeek’s research shows that the Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Value MD plan from Kaiser Permanente is the best HMO Medicare Advantage plan in Maryland. It includes six common benefits plus an additional two, has drug coverage and comes with a high CMS star rating.

However, your healthcare needs will determine the best HMO Medicare Advantage Plan in Maryland for you.

HMOs are the most common type of healthcare plan and are likely to be more affordable than PPOs, EPOs and POS. There are drawbacks, however. For instance, you must stay within your network to ensure coverage, except in the case of an emergency. You’ll also need a referral to see a specialist.

If you don’t need Part D prescription drug coverage in your Maryland Medicare Advantage plan, you have more options to choose from.

For a sample shopper in Maryland looking for a Medicare Advantage plan with or without drug coverage, at least six core benefits and a high CMS rating, MoneyGeek found that Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Liberty plan from Kaiser Permanente may be the best option.

While many Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland have low or no premiums, you may still end up paying thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. To avoid this, MoneyGeek determined the best plans with a low in-network maximum, drug coverage, at least six core benefits and a good CMS rating.

Based on these parameters, the best plan in Maryland is the AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 1 offered by UnitedHealthcare.

Maryland residents can choose Medicare Advantage plans from nine healthcare providers. The following statistics about plan components, such as plan types, $0 premium plans and commonly-offered benefits, can help you figure out which you can expect and which are less common.

MoneyGeek collected data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2022 MA Landscape Source Files released in October 2021. Plans in Maryland were filtered down to those that offer drug coverage (unless otherwise noted), offer six of the most common Medicare Advantage coverage benefits and are available to at least 50% of the population of Maryland based on county availability.