Maryland Open Enrollment for 2027 Coverage
Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker
Short answer
Maryland Health Connection sets Maryland's open enrollment dates for 2027 coverage; check its site for this year's deadlines. Private, medically underwritten plans don't use the window: if approved, they can start the first of any month.
Key dates for Maryland
| What | Maryland Health Connection |
|---|---|
| Open enrollment opens | Set by Maryland Health Connection; check its site |
| Open enrollment closes | Set by Maryland Health Connection; check its site |
| Deadline for a January 1, 2027 start | Set by Maryland Health Connection; check its site |
| Private plans | Any month, if approved |
Maryland at a glance
- Where Maryland buys Marketplace plans: Maryland Health Connection, Maryland's own exchange
- 2027 average rate change: 14.6% (finalized)
- Small-group average change: about 10.2%
- Largest metro areas: Baltimore, DC suburbs (Silver Spring–Rockville–Bethesda), Frederick and Annapolis
- Medicaid expansion: Yes (a separate program, not tied to this window)
What changed for 2027
Maryland's 14.6 percent is finalized and roughly in line with the national figure; small-group plans rise about 10.2 percent. Reinsurance and past state-funded programs are why Maryland's full-price premiums start lower than many neighbors'. More detail is on the Maryland 2027 premium increase page.
For Maryland households buying 2027 coverage, the Marketplace premium tax credit stops at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for two, $109,280 for three and $132,000 for four. The repayment caps were removed starting with tax year 2026, so any excess advance credit is repaid in full on Form 8962. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.
Who this year's window matters for in Maryland
Marylanders renew through Maryland Health Connection, and the state's long-running reinsurance program keeps premiums lower than they would otherwise be, though not enough to stop a 14.6 percent average for 2027. Maryland has also offered state-funded premium help for some young adults in past years, so check the exchange for current programs. Networks in Baltimore and the DC suburbs differ from those on the Eastern Shore and in western Maryland.
Self-employed work that is common in Maryland, and the people I most often help there: federal and defense contractors between contracts, IT consultants, biotech and life-science contractors along I-270, real estate agents, construction trades, and watermen and seasonal businesses on the Eastern Shore.
Before you renew in Maryland
Marylanders in Montgomery and Prince George's counties often see doctors in DC or Northern Virginia, and Eastern Shore residents may use Delaware hospitals, so check that a 2027 plan's network crosses those lines. Federal contractors between contracts should know that losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day special enrollment period, so a gap in work need not mean a gap in coverage.
Should you renew, switch, or look at private?
Auto-renew risk
Do nothing and Maryland Health Connection re-enrolls you at the new 2027 price, 14.6% higher on average in Maryland.
Healthy, income above the line
Price a private plan in Maryland too. If approved, it can start the first of any month, with no wait for Maryland's window.
Health conditions or subsidy-eligible income
Use the Marketplace. Maryland Health Connection plans can't decline you or charge more for your health.
Checklist before you pick a plan
- Your Maryland renewal notice
- The new 2027 premium and deductible
- Doctors and prescriptions still in network, including any care in Baltimore or DC suburbs
- Your 2027 income estimate
Missed it?
After Maryland's window closes, a Marketplace plan needs a special enrollment event: losing other coverage, a move, marriage or a baby, generally within 60 days, through Maryland Health Connection. Check with Can I enroll now? or the missed open enrollment guide.
Leaving a job in Maryland? Maryland requires insured group plans, including those of employers with fewer than 20 workers, to offer up to 18 months of continuation to Maryland residents who leave a job voluntarily or are let go for reasons other than cause after three months of coverage. You have 45 days to elect it and pay the full premium plus up to a 2 percent fee.
Short-term plans, if you only need a bridge: Maryland law limits short-term plans to less than three months with no renewals, which is stricter than the federal rule, so the federal enforcement pause does not change anything in Maryland. They are not Marketplace coverage.
In Maryland, a private, medically underwritten plan needs no event. If approved, it starts the first of a month; approval is not guaranteed.
Compare Maryland plans before you renew
Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.
About your broker
Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307) is a health insurance broker licensed in 31 states including Maryland. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee. BBB Accredited (A) and rated 4.9 on Google from 78 reviews. He is independent, not Maryland Health Connection or a government agency.
Maryland open enrollment questions
When does open enrollment end in Maryland for 2027?
Maryland Health Connection sets Maryland's closing date, not HealthCare.gov. Check its site rather than assuming the federal January 15 date.
What happens if I miss the December 15 deadline in Maryland?
Maryland Health Connection sets the start date for later choices. After the window, you need a qualifying event, or a private plan, which if approved can start the first of a month.
Can I get a private plan in Maryland outside open enrollment?
Yes. In Maryland you can apply in any month, and if approved, a private, medically underwritten plan starts the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health.
Will I be auto-renewed in Maryland?
Usually, at the 2027 price: 14.6% higher on average.
Is there a fee to use a broker in Maryland?
No. Maryland clients pay nothing; the insurance company pays the broker, and Marketplace premiums are the same with or without one.
Where do Marylanders enroll for 2027 coverage?
Through Maryland Health Connection, the state's own exchange, which sets Maryland's open enrollment dates. Check its site for this year's deadlines. A private plan is applied for directly, at any time of year.
More for Maryland
Official source: Maryland Health Connection: special enrollment. Maryland Health Connection is Maryland's state-run exchange. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Maryland and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.