Maryland Health Insurance Carriers for 2026
These are the insurers selling individual and family health plans in Maryland for 2026, and where to buy them.
The Maryland individual market in 2026
Five insurers sell individual and family plans in Maryland for 2026: two CareFirst companies, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare's Optimum Choice, and Wellpoint Maryland. Aetna left after 2025. Most plans are HMOs, and approved unsubsidized rates rose an average of 13.4% for 2026.
Insurers selling individual plans in Maryland
| Insurer | Sells Marketplace plans | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CareFirst BlueChoice | Yes | The largest individual-market carrier in Maryland, selling HMO plans with about 127,000 individual members as of April 2026. |
| CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (GHMSI and CFMI) | Yes | CareFirst's PPO plans, which allow out-of-network coverage but cost more: the 2026 lowest-cost silver PPO for a 40-year-old in the Baltimore area was $585 a month before subsidies. |
| Kaiser Permanente | Yes | Sells HMO plans built around its own medical centers, with about 46,000 individual members as of April 2026. |
| UnitedHealthcare (Optimum Choice) | Yes | Sells HMO plans under the Optimum Choice name and had the lowest-cost 2026 silver plan for a 40-year-old in the Baltimore area among the carriers listed by the state. |
| Wellpoint Maryland | Yes | A smaller HMO carrier in the individual market, with about 3,200 members as of April 2026. |
Not every insurer sells in every county. Your ZIP code determines which plans you can buy.
Maryland questions
Don’t see your question? Ask a licensed agent or call (888) 214-4898.
Five carriers: CareFirst BlueChoice, CareFirst's PPO companies (GHMSI and CFMI), Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare's Optimum Choice, and Wellpoint Maryland. The same five carriers filed for 2027.
Yes. Aetna left Maryland's individual market after 2025, so its members had to choose a new carrier for 2026.
For 2026, the lowest-cost silver plan for a 40-year-old in the Baltimore area ranged from $342 a month (Optimum Choice) to $585 a month (CareFirst PPO) before subsidies, according to the Maryland Insurance Administration. Most people who enroll through the exchange pay less after subsidies.
Yes. Four of the five individual carriers sell HMO plans. CareFirst's GHMSI and CFMI companies sell PPO plans, which cover some out-of-network care but cost more.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
