Maryland small employers in 2027: what an ICHRA or QSEHRA allowance buys on Maryland Health Connection (benchmark Silver $491 a month at 40, 4 insurers.
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The short answer: a Maryland business with 1 to 50 employees chooses between a small-group plan and reimbursing staff for individual plans bought on Maryland Health Connection, the state’s own exchange. The benchmark Silver plan an allowance buys here costs $491 a month for a 40-year-old in 2027 (KFF, statewide), 4 insurers sell, and the approved average increase is +14.6%. The owner’s own coverage follows the entity, and the Form 8941 credit follows headcount and wages, the same in every state.
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Maryland Health Connection publishes no county file, so the figures here are statewide. Enter your ZIP and a licensed agent prices a group plan, an ICHRA, a QSEHRA and the owner’s own plan for your list, free.
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| Benchmark Silver, age 40, full price | $491 a month in 2027 ($414 in 2026, +18.6%) |
|---|---|
| U.S. average benchmark | $704 a month |
| Approved average 2027 rate change | +14.6% |
| Insurers selling 2027 plans | 4: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare (Optimum Choice), Wellpoint Maryland |
| Left after 2026 / new for 2027 | none left / none joined |
| Where to enroll | Maryland Health Connection, the state’s own exchange since 2014 coverage |
| Open Enrollment for 2027 | November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 |
| 2027 credit line, 1 / 2 / 4 people | $63,840 / $86,560 / $132,000 |
Sources: KFF Marketplace Average Benchmark Premiums, 2027 and 2026; Maryland Insurance Administration, 2027 approved rates. Maryland runs its own exchange, so the county-by-county CMS file behind the HealthCare.gov state pages does not exist here; prices by county come from the exchange or from a licensed agent.
The 2027 premium tax credit line for the owner’s own coverage is $63,840 for one person, $86,560 for a couple and $132,000 for a family of four, on net income; above it the full price applies and the private market is the comparison. The deduction route depends on the entity (by entity type). Maryland against the other states: Plans By State; the 1099 side: Plans For 1099.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare (Optimum Choice), Wellpoint Maryland (Maryland Insurance Administration, 2027 approved rates). No insurer left after 2026.
Yes. The business sets a monthly allowance, each employee buys an individual plan on Maryland Health Connection, and the business reimburses up to the allowance. The allowance is tested against each employee’s lowest-cost Silver plan: if it makes that plan affordable, the employee loses the marketplace credit; if not, the employee may opt out and keep it.
KFF’s benchmark Silver plan for a 40-year-old is $491 a month at full price (U.S. average $704), after an approved average increase of +14.6%. Prices differ by county and age; a licensed agent prices a real census.
Price the four routes for a Maryland payrollBack to the ZIP box near the top of this page.