Maryland · Small group · 2027 rates
Maryland Small Group Health Insurance: 2027 Plans and Rates
Carriers filed 2027 small group rates with the state, effective January 1, 2027.
Maryland has 8 small group carriers and 200 plan designs for 2027. Your price depends on your employees' ages and your business location.
Prices are going up for 2027. Maryland approved average increases of about 3% to 12%. Compare again before you renew.
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What's changing for Maryland small group health insurance in 2027?
Average approved 2027 changes by carrier range from +3.1% to +11.7%. Approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration. Your group's change also depends on employee ages.
Carriers filed 9 plan designs that are new for 2027, alongside plans that renew.
Carriers marked 33 current plan IDs as terminated for 2027. Groups on those plans are moved to a replacement at renewal.
Every carrier that sold small-group plans in 2026 filed 2027 rates.
The Maryland Insurance Administration approved an average 10.2% increase on September 25, 2026, below the 13.1% carriers requested. Approved increases run from about 3% (CareFirst PPO) to about 12% (CareFirst BlueChoice HMO).
UnitedHealthcare asked for about 20% across its four Maryland entities. The state approved 8% to 10%.
Kaiser's increase was approved as filed at 7.0%. Its lowest-cost bronze, silver and gold plans for a 40-year-old in Baltimore are the lowest of any carrier.
About 199,000 Marylanders had small-group coverage in March 2026, down 2.1% in a year. UnitedHealthcare's enrollment fell 17%.
How much does small group health insurance cost per employee in Maryland?
| Metal | Plans offered here | Lowest | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Plans offered here24 | Lowest$388 | Median$499 | Highest$556 |
| Silver | Plans offered here66 | Lowest$429 | Median$562 | Highest$620 |
| Gold | Plans offered here93 | Lowest$513 | Median$640 | Highest$760 |
| Platinum | Plans offered here33 | Lowest$595 | Median$730 | Highest$866 |
How employee age changes small group premiums
| Metal | Age 21 | Age 30 | Age 40 | Age 50 | Age 60 | Age 64+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | Age 21$440 | Age 30$499 | Age 40$562 | Age 50$786 | Age 60$1,194 | Age 64+$1,320 |
| Gold | Age 21$501 | Age 30$569 | Age 40$640 | Age 50$895 | Age 60$1,360 | Age 64+$1,503 |
Which carriers offer small group health plans in Maryland?
| Carrier | Plan designs | Plan types | Rating areas | From, age 40, Baltimore | Approved 2027 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | Plan designs31 | Plan typesHMO, POS | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$388 | Approved 2027 change+7.0% |
| CareFirst BlueChoice (HMO/POS) | Plan designs41 | Plan typesHMO, POS | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$445 | Approved 2027 change+11.7% |
| UnitedHealthcare (MAMSI, EPO) | Plan designs32 | Plan typesEPO, POS | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$519 | Approved 2027 change+9.1% |
| UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company | Plan designs29 | Plan typesPOS | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$549 | Approved 2027 change+8.5% |
| UnitedHealthcare (Optimum Choice, HMO) | Plan designs25 | Plan typesHMO, POS | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$484 | Approved 2027 change+8.2% |
| UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic (HMO) | Plan designs24 | Plan typesHMO, POS | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$504 | Approved 2027 change+10.0% |
| CareFirst of Maryland (PPO) | Plan designs9 | Plan typesPPO | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$534 | Approved 2027 change+3.1% |
| CareFirst GHMSI (PPO) | Plan designs9 | Plan typesPPO | Rating areas4 of 4 | From, age 40, Baltimore$534 | Approved 2027 change+3.1% |
Small group health plan prices by Maryland region
| Rating area | Carriers | Lowest Bronze | Lowest Silver | Lowest Gold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore city and 2 more | Carriers8 | Lowest Bronze$388 | Lowest Silver$429 | Lowest Gold$513 |
| Area 2: Calvert, Caroline, Cecil and 9 more | Carriers8 | Lowest Bronze$388 | Lowest Silver$429 | Lowest Gold$513 |
| Area 3: Montgomery, Prince George's | Carriers8 | Lowest Bronze$388 | Lowest Silver$429 | Lowest Gold$513 |
| Area 4: Allegany, Carroll, Frederick and 2 more | Carriers8 | Lowest Bronze$388 | Lowest Silver$429 | Lowest Gold$513 |
Maryland small group rules employers ask about
Who counts as a small employer
- 1 to 50 employees, counting full-time equivalents.
- At least one enrolled employee must be someone other than an owner, partner or spouse.
Md. Code, Ins. § 31-101; MHBE Small Business Issuer Reference Manual
How premiums are set
- By each employee's age (federal 3:1 curve) and the plan. No tobacco surcharge in any 2027 filing.
- CareFirst and Kaiser charge the same price statewide; UnitedHealthcare varies by about 1% across four regions.
- Rates step up each quarter and lock for 12 months from your start date.
Md. Code, Ins. § 15-1205(b); 2027 actuarial memoranda
When you can enroll
- Any month if you meet participation and contribution rules.
- Miss those rules and you can still enroll November 15 to December 15 for a January 1 start.
45 CFR §147.104; COMAR 14.35.18.03
Tax credit and SHOP
- Maryland Health Connection for Small Business offers CareFirst, Kaiser and UnitedHealthcare plans.
- It's the route to the federal tax credit: up to 50% of premiums for fewer than 25 FTEs. Participation minimum 60%.
IRS Small Business Health Care Tax Credit; Maryland Health Connection
Maryland small group health insurance FAQ
For one employee age 40 in the Baltimore area, filed 2027 rates run from $388 to $866 a month. The median Silver plan is $562. Your cost depends on employee ages, your business location and your contribution.
8 carriers filed 2027 small group rates in Maryland. The largest by number of plans are CareFirst BlueChoice (HMO/POS), UnitedHealthcare (MAMSI, EPO) and Kaiser Permanente.
The Maryland Insurance Administration approved average increases of +3.1% to +11.7% by carrier.
Each employee's premium is set by age and by the rating area of your main business location. Carriers can't price a group by its employees' health.
Yes. The Maryland Insurance Administration approved them on September 25, 2026: a 10.2% average increase. The federal rate review site may still say "pending".
State law allows a tobacco surcharge, but none of the 2027 small-group carriers use one.
No. At least one enrolled employee has to be someone other than an owner, partner or their spouse.
Maryland small-group rates step up each quarter. Your rate is set by your start quarter and stays the same for 12 months.
Small group health insurance in other states
- Texas small group health insurance
- Florida small group health insurance
- Alabama small group health insurance
- Tennessee small group health insurance
- Georgia small group health insurance
- Michigan small group health insurance
- North Carolina small group health insurance
- Virginia small group health insurance
- Louisiana small group health insurance
- Mississippi small group health insurance
- South Carolina small group health insurance
- Arkansas small group health insurance
- Arizona small group health insurance
Buying for yourself or your family instead? See the Marketplace plan directory.
Where these numbers come from
- Rates: each carrier's 2027 small-group rate sheets, filed in SERFF with the state insurance department, rates effective January 1, 2027. Plan names, metal levels and plan types: the carriers' Unified Rate Review Templates.
- Approved rate changes: Maryland Insurance Administration rate decisions; filed changes: ratereview.healthcare.gov, small group, plan year 2027.
- CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc.: SERFF CFAP-134962678;CFBC-134872952; actuarial memo; rate justification
- CareFirst of Maryland, Inc.: SERFF CFAP-134962728;CFBC-134872958; actuarial memo
- GHMSI: SERFF CFAP-134962686;CFBC-134872959; actuarial memo
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc.: SERFF KPMA-134943034;KPMA-134766842; actuarial memo
- MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company: SERFF UHLC-134963535;UHLC-134873395;UHLC-134873404;UHLC-134916951; actuarial memo; rate justification
- Optimum Choice, Inc.: SERFF UHLC-134963524;UHLC-134873427; actuarial memo; rate justification
- UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company: SERFF UHLC-134963255;UHLC-134873454;UHLC-134916976; actuarial memo; rate justification
- UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc: SERFF UHLC-134963263;UHLC-134873433; actuarial memo; rate justification
- MIA: 2027 ACA rates approved (September 25, 2026)
- MIA 2027 approved rate exhibits
- MIA 2027 filed rate exhibits
- Md. Code, Ins. § 31-101 (small employer)
- Md. Code, Ins. § 15-1205 (rating)
- MHBE Small Business Issuer Reference Manual 2025–2026
- Maryland Health Connection for Small Business overview
- MHBE: Maryland Small Business Landscape
- 2026 Md. Laws Ch. 138 (SB 14, SHOP effective dates)
- 45 CFR §147.104 (enrollment windows)
- CMS Market Rating Reforms
- CMS state geographic rating areas
- IRS Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
- ratereview.healthcare.gov MD 2027 Small Group
Reviewed by Jacob Guidi, licensed health insurance agent (NPN 19902041), Thrive Benefits Group.
Thrive Benefits Group is a licensed broker, not a carrier or government agency. Rates shown are filed 2027 rates for one employee before the employer contribution. Your group's quote depends on employee ages, location, plan choice and carrier rules. Rate changes shown were approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration.