Maryland Medicare Advantage Plans (2026–2027): Compare by County
Bottom Line
Your Maryland address determines which Medicare Advantage plans you can consider; Baltimore City and Baltimore County are separate locations. Verify doctors and prescriptions for the coverage year, then compare total spending and medical limits rather than premiums alone.
Compare Maryland Medicare Advantage plans using your home ZIP code and county, then narrow the results by your doctors, prescriptions, and total costs. Start with Medicare Plan Finder: insurers choose their service areas, so a plan offered elsewhere in Maryland may not be available at your address.
If you are also considering permanent life insurance, comparing IUL companies deserves a separate budget and review from your Medicare coverage decision.
Find plans for your county and coverage year
Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, delivers your Part A hospital and Part B medical benefits through a private plan; most plans include Part D prescription coverage. You need both Parts A and B and must live in the plan’s service area to enroll during an applicable enrollment period.
In Plan Finder, enter your residential ZIP code, confirm the county if prompted, and select Medicare Advantage. Treat Baltimore City and Baltimore County as separate locations. Add your prescriptions and pharmacies, then save the exact plan names and identification numbers for two or three candidates. Medicare’s tool estimates drug costs from your entries.
The examples below describe 2026 coverage. For coverage beginning January 1, 2027, use the 2027 plan results and insurer documents when available; 2026 information does not establish next year’s premiums, benefits, or networks.
These insurer documents illustrate how availability differs:
- All Maryland counties and Baltimore City appear in the 2026 service area for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Complete (PPO).
- Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Carroll, Harford, and Howard are the service area for Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 2 MD (HMO-POS).
- Montgomery and Prince George’s, plus specified ZIP codes in Calvert, Charles, and Frederick, are the service area for Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 1 MD (HMO-POS). Check the ZIP list before including it in your comparison.
These examples illustrate geography; use Plan Finder for the full local selection. Special Needs Plans require additional eligibility, such as qualifying chronic conditions, institutional care needs, or Medicare and Medicaid eligibility. Confirm that you qualify before including one in your shortlist.
Check doctors before comparing extra benefits
Check each candidate’s provider directory, then confirm participation with both the plan and the provider’s billing office. Use the exact plan name, coverage year, and practice location. Ask about your primary doctor, specialists, preferred hospital, outpatient surgery center, and ongoing treatment providers. Accepting Original Medicare does not establish participation in a particular Advantage network.
Plan type affects your options:
- HMO: Care generally must stay within the network, except for emergencies, out-of-area urgent care, and temporary out-of-area dialysis. Specialist referrals are usually required.
- HMO-POS: Some services may be available outside the network; check the specific limits.
- PPO: Covered out-of-network care is generally available at a higher cost, and specialist referrals are not required.
Prior authorization may still apply. Review the Evidence of Coverage for planned procedures and treatment.
If you receive care in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware, or Pennsylvania, check those providers individually. Being near your Maryland home does not establish network participation.
Compare prescriptions using the same drug list
To compare Maryland Part D costs for your prescriptions, keep the medication names, strengths, quantities, refill schedules, and pharmacy identical across your first comparison. Then test another convenient pharmacy to see whether the estimate changes. Compare the annual premium-plus-drug estimate, not just one inexpensive refill.
Check each drug’s formulary listing, cost tier, and requirements for prior authorization, step therapy, or quantity limits. Resolve coverage questions before enrolling.
For 2026, the Part D out-of-pocket threshold is $2,100 for covered drugs, including qualifying payments made on your behalf. After reaching it, you pay nothing for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. It does not make every prescription covered.
If choosing an Advantage HMO or PPO with drug coverage, use its included Part D coverage. You generally cannot pair those plans with a standalone Part D plan.
Compare the premium and your exposure to medical bills
Understanding what a zero-premium Medicare plan still costs starts with separating the plan premium from your other bills. You remain responsible for Part B premiums unless assistance or a plan benefit pays them; Part A premiums also apply if you do not qualify for premium-free Part A. Deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance can still apply.
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 monthly in 2026, with higher amounts for some incomes. This is a federal amount, not a Maryland Advantage quote or a 2027 price.
An Anne Arundel County example
When comparing Anne Arundel County Medicare Advantage plans, two available 2026 options illustrate why the premium alone is insufficient:
| 2026 plan available in Anne Arundel | Monthly plan premium | Medical out-of-pocket maximum |
|---|---|---|
| CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Complete (PPO) | $42 | $7,300 in network; $12,300 combined in and out of network |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 2 MD (HMO-POS) | $38 | $8,900 in network |
Both medical limits exclude Part D drugs. Kaiser’s point-of-service benefit has separate restrictions; its medical maximum also excludes premiums. These are published plan figures, not personalized quotes or rankings.
Kaiser’s lower premium comes with a higher in-network medical limit in this example. Your decision still depends on network access and the services you use. For each finalist, total annual premiums, expected medical cost sharing, and prescription spending. Then test affordability during a year with hospitalization, surgery, or repeated specialist visits. Check dental or vision allowances only after reviewing their covered services, provider restrictions, and your remaining costs.
Compare Advantage with Original Medicare and Medigap
As you explore Medicare coverage in your state, consider whether you prefer a local plan network or access to providers nationwide who accept Medicare. Original Medicare offers that broader provider choice; it has no annual out-of-pocket ceiling without additional coverage. Medigap, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, helps pay specified Original Medicare cost sharing. It does not pay Advantage cost sharing. Standalone Part D supplies separate prescription coverage.
Compare Maryland Medigap rates and company options by requesting quotes for the same plan letter and start date, using your age and ZIP code. Add standalone Part D premiums to that budget.
Annual Medicare open enrollment does not generally guarantee acceptance for Medigap without medical underwriting. Federal Medigap open enrollment lasts six months, starting the first month you are at least 65 and have Part B; other guaranteed-issue protections can apply.
Maryland’s birthday rule applies to existing Maryland-issued Medigap policies: the birthday and following 30 days provide an opportunity to switch to equal or lesser benefits without underwriting. It does not create a general Advantage-to-Medigap enrollment right.
Confirm when you can change coverage
October 15–December 7, 2026, is the annual election window for changes effective January 1, 2027. People already enrolled in Advantage also have a January 1–March 31 opportunity to switch Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare and join Part D; coverage generally changes the following month. New beneficiaries and people with qualifying events have other enrollment opportunities.
Deciding what to do when your Medicare Advantage plan ends starts with distinguishing a nonrenewal notice from an ordinary benefit change. For a contract nonrenewal, the additional enrollment period runs December 8 through the last day of February of the following year. Other contract terminations have different deadlines; follow your notice and confirm the applicable period with Medicare.
If your plan leaves Medicare or stops serving your area and you return to Original Medicare, guaranteed-issue rights can protect access to certain Medigap policies. Keep the notice and confirm the application deadline promptly; the federal window generally ends 63 days after Advantage coverage ends. Arrange Part D separately if needed.
Prepare your final comparison
If you already have employer, union, or retiree coverage, consult its benefits administrator before changing plans. Enrollment can affect existing benefits.
Gather your address, Medicare start dates, provider list, medication details, pharmacy, and current plan notices. Save two or three local plans for the correct year, verify doctors and drugs, and compare expected spending alongside the medical maximum. Before enrolling, confirm the effective date and resolve any remaining coverage questions.
For free help reviewing your shortlist, use the county contacts provided by Maryland’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Bring your provider and drug lists so the comparison reflects the coverage you need.