Marylanders who buy their own health insurance can now shop for 2027 coverage, and many will pay more. Open enrollment on Maryland Health Connection, the state marketplace, began Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2027.
The dates that matter come from the Maryland Health Connection site. Sign up from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31 and coverage starts Jan. 1. Sign up from Jan. 1 through Jan. 15 and coverage starts Feb. 1. Anyone who misses the window generally needs a qualifying life event to enroll later.
Medicaid and the Maryland Children’s Health Program are the exception. The marketplace says people who qualify can enroll at any time of year. Households already on Medicaid do not need to act during open enrollment unless they receive a renewal notice.
What is changing on price
The Maryland Insurance Administration approved an average 14.6 percent increase for unsubsidized individual plans in 2027, according to Maryland Matters. That is higher than the 13.7 percent average insurers first requested in May and June.
Increases vary by plan and by carrier. Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant has attributed the rise to changes under H.R. 1, the 2025 federal law, along with higher hospital and prescription drug costs.
The percentage applies to premiums before financial help. Maryland runs a state reinsurance program and offers its own subsidies, including help for young adults, which can reduce what a household actually pays. The state says its reinsurance waiver keeps individual rates 30 to 35 percent below where they would otherwise be.
How to get help
Compare plans and check your financial help estimate at MarylandHealthConnection.gov. The Consumer Support Center is at 1-855-642-8572, and Relay service is available for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers. The marketplace also lists in-person help on its Find Help page.
Check before you renew. A plan that renews automatically may no longer be the cheapest or best fit for your household, and your premium can change even if your plan does not.
Ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline, read your renewal notice, update your income and household size, and compare at least two plans in your coverage tier before you confirm.
