I'm Julian Sanchez de la Rosa, an independent broker licensed in Maryland and 30 other states. Maryland is the least expensive state I write in — genuinely, not as a sales line — and it's also one of the few states putting its own money into holding premiums down. Both of those change the math here, so this page explains what you're actually choosing between.
Coverage here works differently than in most states on this site. The plan menu I write from in Maryland doesn't include a stripped-down entry tier, so the low end below is the middle plan, not a bare-bones one — and it still lands below every other state I cover. The high end is the top plan with dental, vision and a critical-illness rider added.
| Household | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|
| Single adult, 30 | $95 | $605 |
| Single adult, 40 | $140 | $660 |
| Single adult, 50 | $185 | $780 |
| Single adult, 60 | $345 | $970 |
| Couple, 40 and 38 | $290 | $900 |
| Family of four, parents 40 | $455 | $1,170 |
Estimates, not quotes. Your actual premium depends on the plan you choose and the carrier's underwriting. Want a figure for your own household? Run the estimator.
Subsidized ACA plans are on Maryland Health Connection, not healthcare.gov. Maryland has run its own marketplace since 2014, making it one of the original state exchanges rather than a recent convert — which mostly means it works, and the people staffing it know the state's plans.
Since 2019 the state has covered part of the cost of the largest claims, so carriers don't have to price for them. The effect lands on people who don't get a subsidy — full-price premiums in Maryland are meaningfully lower than they would otherwise be. If you've been told you earn too much for help, Maryland is one of the few states where that's less painful than it sounds.
Maryland was the first state in the country to do this: check a box on your state tax return and the state will check whether you or your family qualify for coverage, then Maryland Health Connection follows up. It's called Easy Enrollment. If you've been uninsured and putting off dealing with it, that box is the lowest-effort way in — and it costs you nothing to tick it.
Maryland funds its own premium subsidy for young adults, extended through age 37 and made permanent by legislation in 2025. It stacks on top of federal help. Very few states have anything like it, and it's the single most-missed thing in Maryland — people assume the federal subsidy is all there is.
Coverage itself isn't changing, but the paperwork is. Starting January 1, 2027, most enrollees renew every six months instead of once a year, and some adults face new work requirements. Separately, Maryland's state premium assistance closed to new enrollment on April 1, 2026, and from January 2027 most legally present noncitizens lose eligibility for financial help — lawful permanent residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants keep it. If any of that describes you, don't wait until you get a letter.
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage opens November 1, 2026. The closing date is unsettled this year — a federal court struck down the rule that would have shortened the window, and the appeal is being argued in late October 2026. The date that hasn't moved is December 15: enroll by then if you want coverage that starts January 1. For the confirmed final deadline, check Maryland Health Connection directly rather than trusting a date you read anywhere — including here.
Either way, the question I help people answer is the same one: does a subsidized marketplace plan beat what you can buy privately? That depends on your income, your household, and which doctors you want to keep. It takes one conversation to work out, and I'll tell you if the answer is "go to the exchange, you don't need me."
Self-employed people, 1099 contractors, families, and small business owners — plus a lot of federal and contract workers in the DC suburbs whose employment status changes more often than their coverage does.
30 seconds. I reach out. You decide — no pressure, no obligation.
Prefer to skip the form? Book a time on my calendar
Most of my clients don't have an HR department. They're buying coverage on their own — and the market is confusing if this isn't your full-time job. So I lay the plans out side by side in plain English: what each one actually covers, what it costs you when you use it, and where the real differences are. No jargon, no fine print buried at the bottom — just a clear comparison so you can see the trade-offs yourself and make the call with confidence.
1099, freelance, or your own LLC. You need real coverage without an employer footing the bill — and premiums may be tax-deductible.
Spouse, kids, or both. We'll look at what it actually costs to keep your pediatrician and your budget intact.
Laid off, quitting, aging off a parent's plan, or staring down a COBRA bill. Losing coverage opens a special enrollment window.
A handful of employees and no idea where to start. There are more options than you think, and some don't require a group plan.
I'm an independent broker. I shop the market, bring you what's actually available, and show you the trade-offs honestly — including when the answer is "stay where you are."
As an independent broker, I compare plans from different insurance companies side by side and walk you through how they actually differ.
Open Enrollment has a deadline, but life events — losing coverage, moving, marriage, a new baby — open a special enrollment window. Some private options are available year-round.
Self-employed people can often deduct health insurance premiums. I'll flag when it applies so you can raise it with your accountant.
The enrollment is the easy part. I'm still here when a claim gets denied, a card doesn't arrive, or your income changes mid-year.
Prefer to skip the form? Book a time on my calendar