At $450 monthly, Wellpoint is Maryland's cheapest health insurer, $86 below the state average and is our top choice for 40-year-old Maryland residents who have cost as their primary concern and don't need to visit an out-of-network specialist. UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente are the next-lowest options available. Your available carriers and plan types also depend on where in Maryland you live.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Maryland: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: July 23, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Wellpoint Maryland is Maryland's most affordable health insurance provider, with an average monthly premium of $450.
United Healthcare offers the cheapest rates for teens, young adults, adults, seniors and HMO plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield has the lowest PPO rates, and Kaiser Permanente provides the most affordable Platinum coverage.
Compare at least three insurers during Open Enrollment to find affordable coverage. Spending 30 minutes comparing plans can save you hundreds annually.
Most Affordable Health Insurance Companies in Maryland
| Wellpoint Maryland, Inc. | $450 | $86 | $5,400 | $1,032 |
| United Healthcare | $459 | $77 | $5,508 | $924 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $497 | $39 | $5,964 | $468 |
* We calculate average monthly rates by taking the rounded average of each provider’s monthly plan rates in Maryland. We calculate average monthly savings by subtracting the statewide average monthly rate from each provider’s average to show how much cheaper they are than the overall state average. Your actual rates will vary based on age, location and chosen plan.
Kaiser Permanente is the pick for buyers who expect to use their coverage often. Its Platinum plans cost $520 monthly with a $0 deductible and a $5,000 out-of-pocket maximum, the lowest MOOP of any tier in the state. You get copay-level care from day one instead of paying down a deductible first.
Wellpoint
MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.1/5Deductible
2.5/5MOOP
Avg. Monthly Rate
$450Avg. MOOP
$9,217Avg. Deductible
$4,233
Cheapest Maryland Health Insurance By Metal Level
At $423 monthly Wellpoint's Gold plan carries a $1,100 deductible. UnitedHealthcare's Silver at $411 carries a $3,050 deductible. You pay $12 more a month for Gold and get a deductible $1,950 lower. For enrollees who expect to use care, Gold can cost less over a full year despite the higher premium.
UnitedHealthcare's Bronze is the cheapest entry point at $303 monthly, with $6,917 deductible and $10,450 out-of-pocket maximum, so you will pay full price for care until you reach those figures. Kaiser Permanente's Platinum at $520 removes the deductible entirely.
| Bronze | United Healthcare | $303 | $3,633 | $10,450 | $6,917 |
| Silver | United Healthcare | $411 | $4,928 | $9,050 | $3,050 |
| Gold | Wellpoint Maryland, Inc. | $423 | $5,079 | $8,333 | $1,100 |
| Platinum | Kaiser Permanente | $520 | $6,245 | $5,000 | $0 |
* Rates shown are the provider's average at the given metal tier for 40-year-olds.
Compare Cheap Maryland Health Insurance Plans
Check the table below to find the cheapest health insurance options that match your needs:
Data filtered by:
HMO
Silver
40
No
| United Healthcare | UHC Silver ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $403 | HMO | Silver | $9,450 | $4,650 | 40 | No |
| United Healthcare | UHC Silver Copay Focus $0 Indiv Med Ded ($0 Virtual Urgent Care) | $414 | HMO | Silver | $9,200 | $0 | 40 | No |
| Kaiser Permanente | KP MD Silver Virtual Forward 3600 Ded | $415 | HMO | Silver | $8,500 | $3,600 | 40 | No |
| United Healthcare | UHC Silver Value Plan | $415 | HMO | Silver | $8,500 | $4,500 | 40 | No |
| Wellpoint Maryland, Inc. | Wellpoint Essential Silver 2600 ($0 Virtual PCP + Incentives) | $437 | HMO | Silver | $10,150 | $2,600 | 40 | No |
| Wellpoint Maryland, Inc. | Wellpoint Essential Silver 3500 ($0 Virtual PCP + Incentives) | $444 | HMO | Silver | $10,150 | $3,500 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | BlueChoice HMO Referral Silver 2500 VisionPlus Virtual Connect Plus | $446 | HMO | Silver | $9,600 | $2,500 | 40 | No |
| Kaiser Permanente | KP MD Silver 6000 Ded/Vision | $450 | HMO | Silver | $9,000 | $6,000 | 40 | No |
| Wellpoint Maryland, Inc. | Wellpoint Essential Silver Value 4500 ($0 Virtual PCP + Incentives) | $459 | HMO | Silver | $8,500 | $4,500 | 40 | No |
| Kaiser Permanente | KP MD Silver Value 4500 Ded/750 RxDed/Vision | $467 | HMO | Silver | $8,500 | $4,500 | 40 | No |
How to Find the Cheapest Health Insurance in Maryland
- 1Choose a plan type within your budget
Your health needs and budget determine the right tier. In Maryland, a 40-year-old pays $303 monthly for UnitedHealthcare's Bronze plan with a $6,917 deductible or $411 for Silver with a $3,050 deductible. If you go a full year without much care, Bronze saves you $108 a month.
- 2Check if you qualify for subsidies
Household income and size determine eligibility for 2026 subsidies. These apply to incomes between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), with larger credits going to lower incomes.
- 3Check Medicare options if you qualify
Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans generally cost less than marketplace coverage. Compare eligibility requirements and benefits for each program.
- 4Verify prescription coverage
Check each plan's drug formulary before enrolling. The same medication can be low-cost tier with one Maryland insurer and a higher tier with another, this shifts your annual drug cost by hundreds of dollars even when the premiums match. This matters most for brand-name drugs with no generic.
- 5Shop during Open Enrollment period
The Open Enrollment window is from from November 1 to January 15 each year. A qualifying life event such as job loss, divorce or childbirth opens a Special Enrollment period. Compare coverage types, insurer ratings, premium costs and whether your preferred doctors are in-network.
Cheap Maryland Health Insurance: FAQ
Wellpoint Maryland is the cheapest overall at $450 monthly for a 40-year-old. But UnitedHealthcare is cheaper by age group, it costs $411 for adults and $293 for teens. The lowest-cost choice depends on your age and the metal tier you pick, so compare both before enrolling.
Cheap plans charge higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs when you need medical care. You'll pay less monthly but more when using services. Higher-premium plans cost more upfront but reduce what you pay for doctor visits, prescriptions and procedures.
Subsidies reduce monthly premiums through Maryland Health Connection, Maryland's health insurance marketplace. Enter your household income during enrollment to check eligibility.
Maryland allows health insurance enrollment during Open Enrollment (November 1 to January 15 annually). You can also enroll year-round if you experience a qualifying life event like job loss, marriage or having a baby, which triggers Special Enrollment periods outside the standard timeframe.
Subsidies still flow through Maryland Health Connection, the state's own marketplace. Check your eligibility during enrollment, because the credit you qualify for can change your lowest-cost plan. Check the subsidy calculator before comparing prices.
$450 monthly is Maryland's cheapest average, from Wellpoint. UnitedHealthcare averages $459 and Kaiser Permanente $497. Your actual cost depends on your age, metal tier and plan type, and subsidies through Maryland Health Connection can lower it further. Compare quotes from all three before deciding.
How We Decided the Cheapest Health Insurance Companies in Maryland
Maryland offers hundreds of health insurance plans, and premiums vary by age. We analyzed rate data from Maryland Health Connection, the state's health insurance marketplace, to identify which insurers offer the lowest premiums for different demographics.
Our Analysis Approach
MoneyGeek collected plan data for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. We ranked providers by average monthly premiums for 40-year-olds as our baseline "cheapest overall" category. That age reflects Maryland's median health insurance consumer and gives the most relevant comparison point for most shoppers. For age-specific rankings (teens, young adults, adults, seniors), we used the corresponding ages above to show which insurers offer the best rates by age group.
Important Cost Tradeoff
Bronze and Silver plans have deductibles of $3,050 to $6,917 and maximum out-of-pocket costs of $9,050 to $10,450. Before choosing, compare premiums against your expected medical usage.
Related Pages
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.