How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Maryland?

Maryland has approximately 1.0M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 30% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is Maryland Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

Maryland · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Maryland Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Maryland?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Maryland include CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Cigna. Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Maryland has approximately 1.0M Medicare beneficiaries — about 30% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Cigna.

Talk to a licensed Maryland Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

1.0M

Maryland Medicare beneficiaries

~30%

on Medicare Advantage in MD

All 23

Maryland counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

Want to enroll yourself? Compare Maryland Medicare plans online.

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Maryland

For most Marylanders, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in Maryland

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most Maryland metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most Maryland MA plans are HMOs with local networks including Johns Hopkins, MedStar, University of Maryland Medical System, Anne Arundel Medical, Adventist HealthCare. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in Maryland

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Maryland Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Maryland

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Maryland's Blue plan (also covering DC and Northern VA). Statewide network covering Johns Hopkins, MedStar, University of Maryland Medical System.

Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic

Kaiser's Mid-Atlantic region (MD, DC, Northern VA). Vertically-integrated HMO with Kaiser doctors and facilities, particularly strong in DC metro.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare

Both national carriers offer competitive MA and Medigap plans in MD. UnitedHealthcare's AARP-branded Medigap is the most-held Medigap in Maryland.

Aetna & Cigna

Both have competitive MA presence. Maryland has lower MA penetration (30%) than most states because of strong Medigap traditions.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in Maryland

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every Maryland Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Maryland has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many Maryland Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Giant Food, Safeway, Costco, Harris Teeter). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: Maryland beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Maryland

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when Maryland Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into Maryland, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Maryland Medicare FAQ

Are there Maryland-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in Maryland is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, Maryland Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like Johns Hopkins, MedStar, University of Maryland Medical System, Anne Arundel Medical, Adventist HealthCare are common in Maryland — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Maryland fit.

Coverage

Maryland counties we cover

All 23 Maryland counties + Baltimore City. A few of the counties where we have the most active members:

Montgomery Prince George's Baltimore County Baltimore City Anne Arundel Howard Harford Frederick Carroll Charles Washington St. Mary's Cecil Calvert Wicomico Allegany Worcester Queen Anne's Talbot Caroline + 4 more

★★★★★

$1,680 / yr saved

on Medicare Advantage · Bethesda, MD

"I see specialists at both Johns Hopkins and Inova. SilverEdge found me a CareFirst PPO that covered both networks plus dental. Easy choice."

Margaret R.

PPO switch · Bethesda, MD

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