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Maryland Health Insurance Companies
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Maryland Health Insurance Options
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How to Get the Most Savings
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Maryland Health Insurance FAQS
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How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Maryland
Maryland Health Insurance Companies
Maryland has many options when it comes to health insurance companies. Three of the most popular are:
Kaiser Mid-Atlantic
Maryland residents are among the almost 12.6 million members served by Kaiser Permanente, the biggest nonprofit healthcare organization in the United States. Kaiser’s integrated health system, which offers members a complete range of services, is very popular.
Their plans include coverage for all necessary preventive care, prenatal care, vaccinations, emergency care, hospital and medical treatment, pharmacy services, and diagnostic services. Your doctor or specialist may already accept Kaiser insurance due to the network’s size and scope.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
With over 3 million members served through its subsidiaries and affiliates, CareFirst has grown to be one of the leading health insurance providers in the Mid-Atlantic region. More than 1 million physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities are part of CareFirst’s physician network.
Furthermore, their comprehensive prescription drug plan covers nearly 5,000 different medications. They also offer health and wellness programs, through which users receive incentives for maintaining their health, which they can use towards copays or other out-of-pocket costs.
Coventry Health Care
HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans are just a few of the health insurance plan options that Coventry Health Care offers to its members in Maryland. While PPO and POS plans cover doctors, specialists, and hospitals regardless of whether they are members of the Coventry Network, its HMO plan has inexpensive copays and low monthly rates.
One thing that sets Coventry apart is its Total Behavioral Solution, which offers members with chronic illnesses ongoing assistance and therapy to better coordinate their care, and to allow them to benefit from preventive health measures that can enhance quality of life.
Health Insurance Marketplace in Maryland
If you’re looking for a health insurance plan in Maryland, the health insurance Marketplace is a great place to start. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in Maryland who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
Maryland’s Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP) or need health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, though, both at the federal and the state level. Maryland has actually chosen to make stricter guidelines for short-term plans than the federal government has: in Maryland, you can only have a short-term plan for 3 months, and you can’t renew the plan after those 3 months are up. But you can purchase another 3-month policy once your 3 months are up.
Maryland Health Insurance Options
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to health insurance. Understanding your options can help you select the best plan for you and your family without going over budget. You can use a variety of resources to assist your decision and can look into multiple types of plans.
For example, if you are employed, you should speak to your employer about their group plan options. While employers in Maryland are not required to offer their staff health insurance, many do. These plans are frequently less expensive than individual plans, although choices and coverage can be limited.
Programs supported by the government are another excellent option to look into. Medicare offers low-cost plans to residents 65 or older, or individuals of any age with disabilities. Through the Medicaid program, low-income individuals and families may also be eligible for low-cost or even free plans. To qualify for these programs, you must meet a number of requirements, though.
The best resource available to you, though, is an insurance agent, who can ensure that you make the best decision. EZ agents will evaluate all of your available options and even determine whether you are eligible for any assistance programs. We can find plans with the coverage you need that are in your price range.
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How To Get The Most Savings
Maryland is one of the states with the most affordable healthcare in the nation. They come in tied at number 38 for per capita healthcare spending among the 50 states. In Maryland, the average yearly cost of healthcare is $10,340. Even though you live in an affordable state, there are still ways to reduce the cost of your health insurance.
First of all, take care of your health! When assessing your risks, health insurance companies consider your physical health, especially your body mass index (BMI). 32.3% of adults in Maryland are obese, so if you’re in this group, you might end up paying more for insurance.
Another red flag for insurance companies is smoking or other forms of tobacco use. In Maryland, 10% of adults smoke, so if you’re among them, consider quitting. Health insurance for nonsmokers can be up to 50% less expensive than for smokers.
But working with an agent is still the simplest way to get health insurance discounts. You can truly save hundreds of dollars a year by using EZ agents. They accomplish this by looking at all available plans for the best one that will fit your budget, and by finding any local discounts that are available to you. And we offer all of our services at no cost to you!
Maryland Health Insurance FAQS
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Does Maryland require you to have health insurance?
Maryland is one of the states that has a tax penalty for not having coverage. So yes, you need to have at least minimum coverage if you don’t want to pay a penalty.
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What is the cheapest health insurance in Maryland?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $266 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
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What insurers offer plans in Maryland?
The top 5 insurers in your state are CareFirst BlueChoice, CareFirst of Maryland, Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, and Optimum Choice.
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How much does health insurance cost in Maryland?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in Maryland is $360, or $4,320 per year, with plans as low as $266 a month to as high as $778. Many uninsured people in Maryland qualify for a $0 Bronze plan and don’t even know it.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Maryland
There are several ways to sign up for a health insurance plan in your state. You can deal directly with an insurance company: typically, you can enroll online through the company’ website. Alternatively, you can enroll through your employer if they offer a health plan. In this case, all you usually need to do is select the tier you want and complete a form; your company will take care of the rest.
The insurance exchange is another option. Maryland Health Connection is the state-run exchange in Maryland; you can check out their site for your options. But bear in mind that not all insurers participate in the exchange, so you might need to go elsewhere if you prefer one of the other companies’ plans.
Regardless of the path you take, working with an agent speeds up the process and reduces stress. An EZ agent can assist you in comparing all of the plans available to you and guide you step-by-step through the enrollment process. You can rest easy knowing you made the right decision and didn’t miss any steps when you do this.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
