Quick answer
In 2026, the benchmark silver plan on Maryland Health Connection averaged $414 a month for a 40-year-old before subsidies, the second-lowest in the country after New Hampshire. Prices rise with age, from about $324 a month at 21 to $972 at 64. Roughly two-thirds of enrollees got a premium tax credit, and Maryland runs its own extra subsidies on top. Maryland approved a 14.6% average rate increase for 2027, up from the 13.7% insurers first proposed.
Key takeaways
- Maryland’s 2026 benchmark premium, $414 a month for a 40-year-old, was the second-lowest in the country after New Hampshire.
- 255,612 people picked a Maryland Health Connection plan for 2026, up 3.4% from 2025.
- Maryland approved a 14.6% average rate increase for 2027, up from the 13.7% insurers originally requested.
- Maryland runs its own premium subsidy and a Young Adult Subsidy, both reaching households up to 400% of the poverty level, on top of federal tax credits.
- A reinsurance program in place since 2019 gets credit for keeping Maryland’s unsubsidized premiums among the lowest in the country.
On this page
What a Maryland Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $324 |
| 30 | $368 |
| 40 | $414 |
| 50 | $579 |
| 60 | $879 |
| 64 | $972 |
| Child under 15 | $248 |
A family of four with two 40-year-old parents and two young children would pay about $1,324 a month for benchmark plans before subsidies.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
If your household income is between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, a premium tax credit caps what you pay for the benchmark plan at a share of your income. A single 40-year-old in Maryland earning $40,000 would pay about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with a tax credit of about $127. For 2027, the same person’s share would be about $289 a month. Above 400% of the poverty level ($62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage, $63,840 for 2027), the federal credit disappears, though Maryland’s own premium subsidy and Young Adult Subsidy can still help up to that same 400% line. See what is a subsidy in health insurance.
Costs beyond the premium
What you pay when you get care depends on your plan’s deductible, copays and coinsurance, up to the out-of-pocket maximum of $10,600 for one person in 2026 ($12,000 in 2027). If your income is under 250% of the poverty level, a silver plan’s cost-sharing reductions lower those costs.
Maryland Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: Maryland Health Connection, the state-run exchange.
- Enrollment: 255,612 plan selections for 2026, up from 247,243 in 2025. About two-thirds of enrollees got a premium tax credit, and the average enrollee paid $284 a month after federal subsidies alone, a figure that doesn’t count Maryland’s own state assistance.
- Insurers: Five carriers sell Maryland Health Connection plans in both 2026 and 2027: CareFirst BlueChoice, CareFirst GHMSI/CFMI, Kaiser Permanente, Optimum Choice (UnitedHealthcare) and Wellpoint Maryland.
- 2027 prices: The Maryland Insurance Administration approved a 14.6% average increase for unsubsidized individual plans on September 25, 2026, up from the 13.7% insurers originally proposed. By carrier, approved increases range from 12.0% (Kaiser) to 14.6% (CareFirst GHMSI/CFMI).
- State help: Maryland runs a premium subsidy and a separate Young Adult Subsidy, both reaching households up to 400% of the poverty level; the premium subsidy is designed to replace lost enhanced federal tax credits for people under 200% of the poverty level. A reinsurance program, in place since 2019 and extended through 2028, gets credit for keeping Maryland’s unsubsidized premiums among the lowest in the country. The Easy Enrollment Program lets you check a box on your state tax return so Maryland Health Connection can tell you if you qualify for low-cost coverage.
- Medicaid: Maryland expanded Medicaid effective January 1, 2014. Adults qualify up to 138% of the poverty level.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage is scheduled to run from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Check Maryland Health Connection for the exact deadline to get coverage that starts January 1. For ways to keep your bill down, see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in Maryland
- Job-based coverage, usually the cheapest route if it’s offered.
- The Maryland Children’s Health Program for kids up to 322% of the poverty level; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and District of Columbia. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices in your Maryland county: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
Does Maryland have its own health insurance subsidies, on top of federal ones?
Yes. A state premium subsidy reaches households up to 400% of the poverty level, and a separate Young Adult Subsidy Program also reaches up to 400%, funded through 2028.
What is Maryland’s Easy Enrollment Program?
Check a box on your Maryland state tax return, and Maryland Health Connection will tell you by mail whether you qualify for free or low-cost coverage, with no separate application needed to find out.
How much are Maryland’s 2027 premiums going up?
The state approved a 14.6% average increase for unsubsidized individual plans on September 25, 2026, up from the 13.7% insurers originally requested.
Why is Maryland’s health insurance cheaper than other states?
A reinsurance program in place since 2019 helps cover the cost of high-claim enrollees, which keeps premiums lower for everyone else. It’s a big reason Maryland’s $414 benchmark is among the lowest in the country.
Sources
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Maryland approves 2027 ACA premium rates
- Maryland Health Connection: Easy Enrollment Program
- healthinsurance.org: Maryland health insurance marketplace
- healthinsurance.org: Maryland Medicaid
- Maryland Department of Health: Maryland Children’s Health Program
- KFF: Marketplace average benchmark premiums by state
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Prices are averages and estimates; your actual premium depends on your county, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.