Medicare in Maryland

Resources for Maryland Medicare Beneficiaries 

In the US, budgeting for healthcare expenses is essential, so understanding Medicare’s various parts, enrollment periods, and applications or comparing and selecting a Medicare plan—is crucial. Take a moment to explore our information on Medicare’s various components. 

Medicare Basics         Choosing the Right Medicare Plan         Enrolling in Medicare

Seeking advice may be useful when making Medicare decisions in the Old Line State. You have access to several resources that can help you as a resident of Maryland. The State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is just one of these resources that happens to be a favorite of ours. In order to provide Marylanders with Medicare information, SHIP has counselors spread out around the state who collaborate with regional nonprofits, public health groups, and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) unique to your county. 

Medicare Plan Options in Maryland  

If you live in Maryland, you can pick from a number of different Medicare plans. Original Medicare is available to persons who are 65+ or who have a disability and meet the proper requirements determined by Social Security Administration (SSA). Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland are aplenty, and they may be a better choice if you’re looking for the most comprehensive coverage. Medicare beneficiaries can also choose from other Medicare-offered plans, including those covering prescription drugs and Medicare Supplement Insurance. 

Original Medicare (Parts A & B)  

Original Medicare is often considered the basic Medicare program. It is divided into two parts: Medicare Part A, which is hospital insurance, and Medicare Part B, which is medical insurance. Each part has different deductibles that apply to different services. Part A, for example, has an inpatient hospital deductible per benefit period (every time you are admitted), whereas Part B has an annual deductible before Original Medicare kicks in for payment. Things to think about if you want to keep Original Medicare: 

• Original Medicare in Maryland is an excellent option if you want the freedom to choose and access Medicare-accepting providers anywhere in the country. 
• There are no networks, copays, waiting periods, or pre-existing condition restrictions. 

Medicare Advantage (Part C)  

Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage plans, is a private insurance company-provided alternative to Original Medicare coverage. The nicest part about these plans is that they frequently contain additional benefits on top of what Medicare Parts A and B would cover at a minimum. The majority of services are managed by a network of providers; like how a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan works, you may need to have a primary care physician (PCP), a referral to see a specialist, and prior approval for some services, treatments, and drugs in order to obtain them. There are also other types of insurance, such as Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), Health Maintenance Organization-Point of Service (HMO-POS a mix of an HMO and a PPO), and Private Fee for Service (PFFS) plans. 

Maryland’s Medicare Advantage programs provide comprehensive coverage and may be a wise choice. Visit our Medicare Part C Resource Page to find out more about Medicare Advantage. 

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)  

Many Medicare Advantage plans automatically include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The Medicare Part D program is independently offered by private insurance companies that have been granted approval by Medicare. You can also add a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) to your Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement Insurance policy. Depending on the plan you select, you might be required to pay a deductible, copay, or a portion of the price for each of your prescription drugs. 

Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)  

Some people with Medicare in Maryland choose to buy Medigap, which is also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance. These programs seek to fill the “gaps” left by Original Medicare in coverage. Pretty clever right? Deductibles, coinsurance for Medicare Parts A and B, and coverage for medical care outside of the U.S. are a few of these gaps that are covered. 

Since Original Medicare doesn’t cover all of your medical costs, the Maryland Department of Aging (MIA) can help you figure out how Medicare Supplement Insurance coverage might lower your out-of-pocket costs. 

You should be aware that Medigap does not cover anything related to Medicare Advantage. Medigap coverage and a Medicare Advantage Plan cannot be held concurrently. The start date of your Medigap policy should begin the day after the expiration date of your Medicare Advantage plan if you already have one and wish to purchase one.  

Medicaid 

Medicaid is a government-run healthcare program that has been in place since 1965. It helps children, parents, pregnant women, older people, and people with disabilities who qualify based on income levels get access to affordable health care. It is jointly funded by the state and federal governments. Each state runs its own Medicaid program in alignment with federal regulations. The federal rules are broad, so states have room to make and run their own programs. Because of this, Medicaid eligibility and benefits can vary a lot from one state to the next, and often do. 

How and when to sign up for Medicare in Maryland

Most people in the U.S. can sign up for Medicare when they turn 65. A person also becomes eligible for Medicare in these instances: 

• You are under 65, permanently disabled, and have been getting Social Security disability payments for at least 24 months. In another case, if you were a railroad employee and are receiving disability benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board.  
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 
• You were diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). 

Medicare Advantage Enrollment Periods in Maryland and nationwide  

Here is a quick overview of the Medicare enrollment and timeframes in which you can elect or change your Medicare Advantage plan.  

Phew! We’re almost done, Little America. Healthpilot knows that figuring out Medicare can be tough and that deadlines for signing up can make it a bit more stressful. 

What is today’s great news? We’d be happy to do all the hard work for you. After you answer a few questions, we’ll offer you a personalized Medicare plan recommendation that is right for you, and you can even sign up online in minutes. 

Once you’re a Healthpilot customer, we’ll do this for you every year for the rest of your life. When you have Healthpilot on your side, you don’t have to stress about the small details. 

Let’s take a peek.

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Key Stats

Some interesting facts about Medicare coverage in Maryland:   

• 1,058,229 people in Maryland have Medicare. This means that only 17% of people have Medicare, which is less than the average of 19% for the country as a whole. 
• About 18% of Medicare recipients in Maryland are in a private Medicare Advantage program. One of the country’s lowest participation rates, this is well below the average of 45% for the entire country. 
• In Maryland, the average cost of a Medicare Advantage plan went from $40.73 per month in 2022 to $34.86 per month in 2023. A savings of 14.4% in average premium cost. 
• In Maryland, the cheapest Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plan costs $7.60 per month. 
• We also said we’d tell you something interesting about Maryland, so here it is: The State Board of Elections says that 48 people in the state are at least 114 years old. 

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