Maryland has 26 Medicare Advantage plans from eight providers. Kaiser Permanente leads HMO-POS options in Maryland with a 4.5-star rating and $69 monthly premiums, though MOOP limits average $7,073. Alterwood Advantage has the best HMO plans at $51 per month, with a $7,500 average MOOP. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best PPO option with a 5.0 MoneyGeek Score.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Maryland (2026)
Updated: August 17, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Key Takeaways
Maryland has 26 Medicare Advantage plans from eight providers across HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plan types, with premiums from $0 to $182 per month.
Top Medicare Advantage providers in Maryland include Alterwood Advantage for HMO, Kaiser Permanente for HMO-POS and Blue Cross Blue Shield for PPO plans.
Choose your best Maryland Medicare Advantage plan by confirming your doctors are in-network and comparing total annual costs against monthly premiums.
Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Maryland
| HMO | Alterwood Advantage | 3.50 | $51 | $7,500 | Alterwood Advantage Choice (HMO) |
| HMO-POS | Kaiser Permanente | 4.50 | $69 | $7,073 | Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 2 MD (HMO-POS) |
| PPO | Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.50 | $22 | $7,778 | CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO) |
Medicare Advantage Plans Explained
Bundled Part A and Part B coverage comes from private insurance companies through Medicare Advantage plans. On top of everything Original Medicare covers, these plans add dental and vision benefits plus prescription drug coverage.
- CMS Star Ratings: A one-to-five-star scale from Medicare reflects quality of care and member satisfaction, and a rating of four or five marks the top performers.
- Monthly premiums: Your regular Part B premium plus any extra plan costs make up your monthly bill. Plenty of Medicare Advantage plans add $0 on top of your standard Part B payment.
- Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: This yearly cap sets a ceiling on what you'll pay, and the plan picks up all remaining costs once you reach it.
- Prescription drug coverage: Part D medication benefits come bundled into most plans' packages. Check the plan's drug list to confirm your medications are covered and understand any cost-sharing requirements.
Alterwood Advantage
Best HMO
MoneyGeek Rating
4.8/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Quality
2.5/5Availability
CMS Star Rating
3.5Plan Types
HMO
Kaiser Permanente
Best HMO-POS
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Quality
5/5Availability
CMS Star Rating
4.5Plan Types
HMO, HMO-POS
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Best PPO
MoneyGeek Rating
5/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Quality
5/5Availability
CMS Star Rating
3.5Plan Types
PPO
Best Maryland HMO Medicare Advantage Providers
Maryland has 10 HMO Medicare Advantage plans from five providers, averaging 3.6 stars across the market, with two plans earning 4 stars or higher. Out-of-pocket maximums across provider averages from $7,500 (Alterwood) to $9,063 (Humana). All plans include enhanced Part D prescription coverage.
- Alterwood Advantage has three plans with a 3.5-star rating, including one $0-premium plan and the lowest $7,500 average MOOP.
- Kaiser Permanente leads with two plans at 4.5 stars at $0 a month and an average $8,463 MOOP limit.
- Humana provides two plans at 3.5 stars. Both charge $22 monthly with a $9,063 average MOOP.
| Alterwood Advantage | 3.50 | $51 | $7,500 | 3 | 4.75 |
| Kaiser Permanente | 4.50 | $0 | $8,463 | 2 | 4.32 |
| Humana | 3.50 | $22 | $9,063 | 2 | 4.25 |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD | 3.50 | $45 | $8,950 | 1 | 3.84 |
| Cigna HealthCare | 3.00 | $38 | $9,000 | 2 | 3.69 |
Alterwood's $7,500 average MOOP is $1,563 lower than Humana's $9,063. Humana's $22 monthly premium saves $348 per year against Alterwood's $0 plan, but an enrollee who hits the MOOP pays $1,299 more with Humana after that saving is applied.
HMO PROS AND CONS
HMO Medicare Advantage plans require you to stay within a provider network and get referrals from your primary care doctor before seeing specialists. You'll pay lower premiums and have more predictable out-of-pocket costs than other Medicare plans. These plans work well if you're comfortable having a primary care physician coordinate your health care.
Best Maryland HMO-POS Medicare Advantage Providers
HMO-POS plans in Maryland add out-of-network access at a higher cost than standard HMOs. Monthly premiums average $69 across the two providers. The average MOOP of $6,364 is lower than the HMO average of $8,395.
- Four Kaiser Permanente plans have a 4.5-star rating, cost $69 a month and average a $7,073 MOOP limit.
- Three UnitedHealthcare plans hold a 5.0-star rating, cost $95 a month and cap out-of-pocket costs at $4,850.
| Kaiser Permanente | 4.50 | $69 | $7,073 | 4 | 5 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 5.00 | $95 | $4,850 | 3 | 4.5 |
UnitedHealthcare scores 5.0 stars and carries the lowest average MOOP in Maryland at $4,850, which is $2,223 lower than Kaiser's $7,073. UHC costs $95 monthly versus Kaiser's $69, a difference of $312 per year. For enrollees who expect to hit their MOOP, UHC's lower ceiling saves $1,911 net after the premium gap. For enrollees with moderate care needs who stay well below their MOOP, Kaiser's $69 average costs $312 less per year.
HMO-POS PROS AND CONS
HMO-POS plans cost more than standard HMOs but carry a lower average MOOP at $6,364 versus $8,395 for HMO plans. You can see out-of-network providers when needed.
Best Maryland PPO Medicare Advantage Providers
Nine PPO Medicare Advantage plans from four providers are available in Maryland. Average monthly premiums are $46, though one plan has a $0 premium. MOOP averages $7,517 across providers and ranges from Aetna's $6,750 to BCBS's $7,778. The four PPO providers average 3.56 stars on CMS quality ratings.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield leads the PPO market with two plans, averaging $22 per month, $7,778 MOOP, and 3.5-star ratings.
- Aetna has one plan with $46 monthly premiums, a 4.5-star rating, and the lowest MOOP among Maryland's PPO plans at $6,750.
- Humana provides three plans averaging $23 per month, $7,550 MOOP, and 3.83-star CMS ratings.
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.50 | $22 | $7,778 | 2 | 5 |
| Aetna | 4.50 | $46 | $6,750 | 1 | 4.8 |
| Humana | 3.83 | $23 | $7,550 | 3 | 4.22 |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD | 3.00 | $101 | $7,550 | 3 | 3.25 |
BCBS at $22, Humana at $23 and Aetna at $46, $1,028 MOOP difference between them. Aetna's $6,750 ceiling is $1,028 lower than BCBS's $7,778. At $46 per month versus BCBS's $22, Aetna costs $288 more per year in premiums. An enrollee who hits the MOOP saves $1,028 with Aetna and comes out $740 ahead. An enrollee who uses minimal care pays $288 more for coverage they do not fully use.
PPO PROS AND CONS
PPO plans average $46 monthly at the median with a $7,517 average MOOP. You can visit any Medicare-approved doctor without referrals, in-network or out.
How to Find the Best Maryland Medicare Advantage Plans
Confirm your doctors are in the plan's network before comparing premiums. HMO plan members pay the full cost of any out-of-network visit themselves, on top of their monthly premium.
- 1Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network
Your plan's network needs to include both your doctors and the hospitals they use, so confirm that before enrolling. HMO plans limit you to in-network providers outside of emergencies. PPO plans let you go out-of-network, but at a higher cost-sharing rate than in-network care.
- 2Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
The highest amount you'd pay for covered services in a year is your maximum out-of-pocket cost, and comparing it matters as much as comparing premiums. Alterwood's $51-a-month plan comes with a $7,500 MOOP. Kaiser Permanente's Standard 1 MD plan costs $28 a month with a $7,900 MOOP.
Reaching your annual out-of-pocket limit on the Kaiser plan puts your total annual cost at $8,236 ($336 in premiums plus the $7,900 MOOP), compared to $8,112 on the Alterwood plan ($612 in premiums plus the $7,500 MOOP), a $124 difference. Confirm your expected care needs before choosing based on the lower monthly premium alone.
- 3Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Your medications need to show up on the plan's drug formulary, and where they land on the tier list changes what you pay. Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, but some require separate Part D enrollment for medication benefits.
- 4Evaluate Additional Benefits
Dental care, vision services, hearing aids, fitness memberships and transportation to medical appointments show up in many Medicare Advantage plans as additional benefits.
- 5Consider CMS Star Ratings
Each plan's CMS star rating measures quality and performance on a one-to-five-star scale, and plans on this page span 3.0 to 5.0 stars. UnitedHealthcare has the highest rating at 5.0 stars. Cigna HealthCare and Johns Hopkins Advantage MD each score 3.0.
Average Maryland Medicare Advantage Cost
HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans carry different Medicare Advantage cost structures in Maryland. HMO plans have the lowest median premium at $29 monthly and the highest average MOOP at $8,395. HMO-POS plans add out-of-network access: median premium rises to $38, but average MOOP drops to $6,364, the lowest of the three types. PPO plans cost $42 monthly at the median with a $7,517 average MOOP.
| HMO | $29 | $30 | $8,395 |
| HMO-POS | $38 | $69 | $6,364 |
| PPO | $42 | $46 | $7,517 |
Maryland's HMO average MOOP of $8,395, above the national Medicare Advantage average. HMO-POS plans in Maryland average $6,364. For Maryland enrollees comparing costs with retirees in other states, the HMO-POS structure often closes that gap without requiring a full switch to PPO.
Bottom Line
Kaiser Permanente's 4.5-star rating is the highest among the three featured providers and its $5,700 out-of-pocket cap on the High MD plan is $664 lower than the Maryland HMO-POS average of $6,364. Alterwood Advantage is the right entry point if your doctors are in its network. The $51 premium is real, but its $7,500 MOOP means a bad health year costs $552 more worst-case than Kaiser's High MD plan ($7,500 vs. $6,948 total annual exposure).
Best Maryland Medicare Advantage: FAQ
Maryland residents can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, or during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31. Moving to a new area or losing existing coverage may qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period outside these windows.
Most Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland include Part D prescription drug coverage. Before enrolling, check that your medications are on the plan's formulary and note their tier placement.
You may need to change plans because networks differ by county. Let your insurer know within 30 days of relocating to determine if your coverage continues in your new area.
Go to the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, enter your ZIP code and the plan name, then use the provider search to confirm your doctor is listed as in-network for that specific plan in 2026. Network rosters change annually, so confirm even if your doctor accepted the same plan last year. For HMO plans, an out-of-network doctor means you pay the full cost except in emergencies. PPO plans cover out-of-network visits at a higher cost-sharing rate.
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Maryland Medicare Advantage Plans
MoneyGeek pulled plan data for all Medicare Advantage plans available to Maryland ZIP codes from CMS for the 2026 plan year. Plan-level premium and MOOP figures reflect in-network costs for a standard Part C and Part D enrollment. Scores were calculated across the three weighted criteria above and are specific to the Maryland market.
- Affordability (50%): Costs represent half the total score due to their influence on your spending. We analyzed combined monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage (weighted at 30%) and in-network maximum out-of-pocket limits (weighted at 20%). Plans with lower premiums and MOOP thresholds score higher by reducing annual health care expenses.
- Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings evaluate plan performance in care quality and customer service, weighted alongside member experience data. The Overall Star Rating merges Part C (medical benefits) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) scores into one rating on a 1 to 5-star scale. Higher-rated plans score better in our evaluation.
- Availability (10%): We consider each insurer's coverage area across the United States. Providers serving more states score higher, as broader availability indicates stronger infrastructure, better support and continuity if you relocate.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
Sources
- CMS.gov. "Medicare Advantage Resources." Accessed September 13, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. "Welcome to Medicare." Accessed September 13, 2026.