At $450 monthly, Wellpoint Maryland offers Maryland residents the most affordable health insurance with $86 savings below the average, though plan availability differs by jurisdiction. United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente provide alternatives. Geographic location within Maryland affects your insurer choices and available plan types.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Maryland: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: January 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.
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 Providers By Profile
Plan affordability shifts based on how old you are, which plan type you select and what metal level fits your needs. Balancing monthly premium costs with deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket expenses helps identify coverage matching your healthcare usage patterns and financial situation throughout the year, especially when you're factoring prescription medications into your regular health care spending and expected doctor visits.
| Teens | United Healthcare | $293 | $3,521 | $9,050 | $3,050 |
| Young Adults | United Healthcare | $329 | $3,949 | $9,050 | $3,050 |
| Adults | United Healthcare | $411 | $4,928 | $9,050 | $3,050 |
| HMO | United Healthcare | $411 | $4,928 | $9,050 | $3,050 |
| With Health Savings Account Eligibility | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $490 | $5,881 | $6,850 | $3,400 |
| PPO | Blue Cross Blue Shield | $659 | $7,911 | $8,500 | $4,500 |
| Seniors | United Healthcare | $872 | $10,466 | $9,050 | $3,050 |
* Rates shown are averages for silver-tier plans, using the following ages for each group: teens age 18, young adults age 26, adults age 40, seniors age 60. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds.
Cheapest Maryland Health Insurance By Metal Level
Bronze plans through United Healthcare cost $303 monthly for 40-year-olds with higher deductibles when you need care, while Kaiser Permanente's Platinum plans charge $520 monthly but eliminate deductibles entirely.
Silver coverage from United Healthcare sits at $411 monthly with moderate cost-sharing when you visit doctors or fill prescriptions, creating three distinct pricing structures based on how you prefer balancing monthly costs against point-of-care expenses.
| 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 following table to discover the cheapest health insurance options in your state 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
These steps will help you find low-cost coverage fitting your health care requirements:
- 1Choose a plan type within your budget
Your health circumstances and income determine which type of plan and metal tier work best. Calculate your monthly premium budget, assess your current health status and evaluate your injury or illness risk based on age, location and lifestyle.
- 2Check if you qualify for subsidies
Your household income and size determine eligibility for 2026 health insurance subsidies. Subsidies apply to incomes between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Lower incomes receive larger subsidies, with credit amounts decreasing as income rises.
- 3Explore Medicare options if you qualify
Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans cost less than marketplace coverage. Compare eligibility requirements and benefits for each program.
- 4Verify prescription coverage
Check which tier your medications fall under for each insurer. Some plans place common prescriptions on lower tiers with smaller copays, potentially saving you hundreds annually.
- 5Shop during Open Enrollment period
The Open Enrollment window spans November 1 through January 15 annually. You might access Special Enrollment after a qualifying life event such as job loss, divorce or childbirth. Evaluate coverage types, insurer ratings, premium costs and whether your preferred doctors participate in each network.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Maryland: Bottom Line
Maryland residents seeking affordable coverage should request quotes from Wellpoint Maryland, United Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente to compare total annual costs across different metal tiers, examining how each insurer's combination of monthly premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums affects your health care spending based on expected medical needs throughout the year.
Cheap Maryland Health Insurance: FAQ
We answer common questions about affordable health insurance in Maryland:
What is the cheapest health insurance in Maryland?
Wellpoint Maryland offers the cheapest health insurance, with Silver plans starting at $450 monthly for 40-year-olds.
What are the downsides of a cheap health insurance plan?
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.
Do I qualify for subsidies on health insurance in Maryland?
Subsidies reduce monthly premiums through Maryland Health Connection, Maryland's health insurance marketplace. Enter your household income during enrollment to check eligibility.
When can I enroll in health insurance in Maryland?
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.
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
We collected plan data for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60 to cover the full age spectrum from teens through pre-Medicare seniors. We ranked providers by their average monthly premiums for 40-year-olds as our baseline "cheapest overall" category, since this age reflects Maryland's median health insurance consumer and provides the most relevant comparison for most shoppers.
For age-specific rankings (teens, young adults, adults, seniors), we used the corresponding ages listed above. This approach reveals which insurers offer the best rates for your specific age group, not just generic "cheapest" rankings that may not apply to you.
Important Cost Tradeoff
Bronze and Silver plans (the lowest monthly premiums) charge $3,050 to $6,917 deductibles and $9,050 to $10,450 maximum out-of-pocket costs. You'll save monthly but pay more when you need care. Compare premiums and potential out-of-pocket expenses based on your expected medical usage.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.