Open enrollment starts November 1! The application is available daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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Open enrollment starts November 1! The application is available daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Maryland Health Connection offers private health plans from insurance companies you recognize. All plans offer essential health benefits and preventive care.
Essential health benefits:
Things to consider when choosing a plan
Metal level
Insurance companies use metal levels to describe different types of plans. These are Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Generally, the lower your monthly payment, the higher your out-of-pocket costs when you need medical services.
If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions (reduced out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays), you can access these savings only by choosing a Silver plan.
Catastrophic plans
A Catastrophic health plan offers lower premiums, but has higher out-of-pocket costs than other plans on the marketplace. They offer protection against very high bills if you’re seriously hurt or injured. These plans cover three visits to a primary care doctor per year at no cost. They also include free preventive benefits, like vaccines and screenings, even if you haven’t paid your deductible. Unlike other plans, if you enroll in a Catastrophic plan, you won’t be eligible for tax credits that may lower your premium costs or for other savings.
People under 30 may buy catastrophic coverage.
If you’re 30 or older and want to enroll in a Catastrophic plan, you must apply for an exemption to show that other coverage options are unaffordable.
Marketplace coverage is considered unaffordable if the lowest cost Bronze-level plan available to you through Maryland Health Connection in the tax year is more than 7.97% of your household income for plan year 2024. The cost to you must include any tax credits you would qualify for if you enrolled in that plan.
Network/plan types
Some plans allow you to see almost any doctor or use any health care facility; others limit your choices to a network of doctors and facilities, or require you to pay more if you use providers outside the network.
You can choose from plan types called Health Maintenance Organization, Preferred Provider Organization, Point of Service, Exclusive Provider Organization, Integrated Delivery System, Health Savings Account-Eligible, and Value Plan.
Understand how much your plan will cost
After you enroll in a plan, you’ll receive a monthly bill that you have to pay on time to stay covered. When you use medical services, you may have to pay other costs:
Find a doctor in your plan
You will pay the lowest costs for services when you see a doctor or provider in your plan’s network.
Call your doctor’s office to ask if they accept your insurance, check with your insurance company, or use our search tool.
