Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Maryland (2027)

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Updated: October 30, 2026

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Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Maryland

Kaiser Permanente is the best Medicare Advantage provider in Maryland, with a 4.5 CMS star quality rating and 7 plans across 11 counties. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield serves the widest coverage area in the state at 24 counties and carries the lowest maximum annual cost exposure at $6,913. Humana and Alterwood Advantage each serve 20 counties, and Alterwood has the second-lowest maximum cost exposure at $7,500.

We evaluated all six Medicare Advantage providers in Maryland, comparing affordability, quality ratings and geographic availability. CMS star ratings range from 2.5 to 4.5 stars, while median maximum annual cost exposure ranges from $6,913 to $8,728. The best option depends on your county, preferred providers, budget and coverage needs.

Kaiser Permanente
4.3
$8,200
4.5
11
7
Alterwood Advantage
4.1
$7,500
3.5
20
3
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
4.1
$6,913
2.5
24
4
Humana
4.1
$7,866

4.0

20
6
Johns Hopkins Advantage MD
4.1
$8,563

4.0

12
5
HealthSpring
3.6
$8,728

3.0

4
2

Maryland Medicare Advantage Market Overview

Maryland has 27 non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans from six insurers for 2027, with a median of 12 plans available per county. Medicare Advantage plans combine Medicare Part A and Part B coverage through private insurers, often with prescription drug coverage and supplemental benefits like dental, vision and hearing.

Only 52% of Maryland plans have $0 monthly premiums, so both premiums and out-of-pocket costs are important comparison factors. The median maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit is $7,500, with annual limits as high as $9,850. Quality also varies, with only 56% of rated CMS contracts earning 4 stars or higher. Comparing total costs, provider networks and quality ratings can help you find the best options available in your county.

Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans
27
Not all plans are available statewide. Availability varies by county.
Carriers
6
Fewer insurers make provider networks and coverage differences especially important to compare.
CMS contracts
9
Quality ratings can differ between contracts from the same insurer.
Median plans per county
12
Local plan selection is limited.
Plans with a $0 premium
52%
Nearly half of plans charge an additional premium beyond Medicare Part B.
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP)
$7,500
Half of plans have annual in-network spending limits at or below this amount.
MOOP range
$5,700–$9,850
Spending limits differ by up to $4,150.
Average CMS star rating
3.76 out of 5
Average quality falls below 4 stars.
Contracts rated 4+ stars
56%
A slight majority of rated contracts meet the 4-star quality benchmark.
Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente

MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
3.9/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.5/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $8,200

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.5

  • Counties Served

    11

  • Plans Available

    7
Alterwood Advantage

Alterwood Advantage

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,500

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3.5

  • Counties Served

    20

  • Plans Available

    3
CareFirst BCBS

CareFirst BCBS

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.7/5Affordability
3.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.5/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $6,913

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    2.5

  • Counties Served

    24

  • Plans Available

    4
Humana

Humana

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,866

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.0

  • Counties Served

    20

  • Plans Available

    6
Johns Hopkins Advantage MD

Johns Hopkins Advantage MD

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $8,563

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.0

  • Counties Served

    12

  • Plans Available

    5
HealthSpring

HealthSpring

MoneyGeek Rating
3.6/ 5
3.7/5Affordability
3.4/5Quality & Member Experience
3.8/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $8,728

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3.0

  • Counties Served

    4

  • Plans Available

    2

How to Choose the Best Maryland Medicare Advantage Plans

Maryland has 27 non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans from six carriers in 2027, but availability, costs and benefits vary by county. Start by confirming your doctors are in-network, then compare premiums, out-of-pocket limits, prescription drug coverage and quality ratings.

  1. 1
    Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network

    Your plan's network needs to include both your doctors and the hospitals they use, so confirm the network covers both before enrolling. HMO plans limit you to in-network providers except in emergencies. PPO plans allow out-of-network visits but charge you a higher share of the cost per visit.

  2. 2
    Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs

    The highest amount you'd pay for covered services in a year is your maximum out-of-pocket limit, which can be much higher than premium costs alone. Only 52% of Maryland Medicare Advantage plans have $0 monthly premiums for 2027, so both premiums and medical expenses are important considerations. The statewide median maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit is $7,500, with individual plan limits ranging from $5,700 to $9,850.

  3. 3
    Review Prescription Drug Coverage

    Check whether your medications appear on each plan's formulary, or covered drug list, and review their assigned pricing tiers. Generic drugs cost less than brand-name medications, but copays, coinsurance and pharmacy pricing vary by plan.

    Many Maryland Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage. Use Medicare's Plan Finder to compare estimated annual drug costs and confirm whether your preferred pharmacy participates in the plan's network.

  4. 4
    Evaluate Additional Benefits

    All 27 Maryland Medicare Advantage plans include vision and hearing benefits in 2027, while about 78% include dental coverage. The benefits themselves vary, so check annual dollar limits, covered services and required copays before enrolling.

    Dental availability varies by insurer. Alterwood Advantage and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield include dental benefits on all their plans, while Humana includes dental on about 67% and Johns Hopkins Advantage MD on 40%. Compare individual plans if dental coverage is a priority for you.

  5. 5
    Consider CMS Star Ratings

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Advantage contracts on a five-star scale based on care quality, member experience and plan performance. Carriers in Maryland range from 2.5 to 4.5 stars. Use these ratings to compare insurers with similar costs, benefits and provider networks.

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Maryland?

Maryland Medicare Advantage costs vary by plan type, with HMOs having the lowest median monthly premium at $0, compared with $10 for PPOs and $36 for HMO-POS plans. HMOs also have the lowest median maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit at $7,500, slightly below PPOs at $7,550 and HMO-POS plans at $7,700.

Specialist copays are consistent at $35 across all three plan types, while HMO-POS plans have the lowest median primary care copay at $0. Inpatient hospital copays range from $350 per day for HMOs to $385 for PPOs.

HMO
$0
$7,500
$350
$15
$35
HMO-POS
$36
$7,700
$375
$0
$35
PPO
$10
$7,550
$385
$15
$35

Maryland Medicare Advantage Resources

Maryland residents can get free counseling, compare plans and find financial assistance through these state and federal resources.

  • Maryland Insurance Administration: The state agency that licenses and regulates Maryland insurers. Use it to verify a carrier's standing, review consumer protections or file a complaint about a plan or insurer.
  • Maryland SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program): Free, unbiased counseling for Medicare beneficiaries. SHIP counselors help compare Medicare Advantage plans, review enrollment options and answer coverage questions at no cost.
  • Medicare.gov Plan Finder: The official federal tool to compare Medicare Advantage plans by ZIP code, including CMS star ratings, prescription drug coverage, out-of-pocket limits and monthly premiums.
  • Maryland Medicare Savings Programs: Helps eligible residents pay Part B premiums and other Medicare cost-sharing expenses, including deductibles and copays. Eligibility is income-based.
  • Social Security Administration: Handles Medicare enrollment for most Maryland residents. Use it to apply for Medicare, verify enrollment status or arrange premium payment.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Our Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluated Maryland Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2027 plan year, including the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.

How We Score Carriers

Each carrier in the state receives an overall MoneyGeek score out of five from a weighted average of three category scores:

  • Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure, calculated as annual premiums plus the maximum out-of-pocket limit, along with inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
  • Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings make up 60% of this category and CAHPS C26 member ratings make up 40%. Both are measured at the contract level.
  • Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, make up 50% of this category. County coverage makes up 30% and plan choice per county makes up 20%.

About Patrick Bryant

Patrick Bryant, Vertical Lead, Life & Health Insurance, MoneyGeek

Patrick Bryant is Vertical Lead for Life and Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches and writes about life and health insurance products and maintains the scoring methodologies that underpin MoneyGeek's provider comparisons in both verticals. His scoring methodologies for both verticals are reviewed and updated quarterly to reflect current carrier data and market conditions.

Life Insurance

For life insurance, Bryant analyzed more than 50 carriers across term, whole life, universal life, indexed universal life, guaranteed acceptance, no-exam, and final expense products in all 50 states, collecting thousands of quotes across age, gender, health status, coverage level, and tobacco use profiles. He has produced articles covering life insurance reviews, best of guides, rate analysis guides and informational resources to help consumers better understand policy options, pricing factors, underwriting requirements, and how to choose coverage that fits their financial goals.

Health Insurance

For health insurance, he reviews providers across all 50 states using CMS exchange data, Quality Rating System ratings, and claim denial rates covering individual and family plans, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement plans. He has analyzed plan costs, benefits, network strength, and out-of-pocket exposure across a wide range of consumer profiles, producing in-depth reviews, best-of rankings, and educational guides to help individuals and families compare options and choose coverage that aligns with their healthcare needs and budget.

Before specializing in insurance, Bryant spent four years at Forbes Advisor reviewing small business software and services. During that time, he developed the product review and data methodology skills he now applies to carrier analysis at MoneyGeek. Earlier roles at ClickGiant and Benefitfocus involved direct content work for insurance agents, carriers and employee benefits partners including Allstate and Aflac.

Education

  • M.A., English, Winthrop University
  • B.A., English, Winthrop University

Expertise

Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement

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