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Health Insurance for Small Business Owners in Maryland: 2027 Guide
Quick answer: Small business owners in Maryland can buy individual coverage, offer a small-group plan, or reimburse employees through an arrangement like an ICHRA. The best option depends on how many employees you have and what you want to spend.
Solo owners
If you have no employees, buy individual coverage on Maryland Health Connection or a private PPO. The premiums are generally deductible for the self-employed.
Owners with employees
A small-group plan from carriers such as CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare is the traditional route. Groups usually need to meet minimum participation. Employer contributions are generally deductible, and some small employers may qualify for a tax credit, so ask your CPA.
Reimbursement options
An individual coverage HRA, or ICHRA, lets you reimburse employees for the plans they choose. It gives you a fixed budget and employees more choice, but the setup and rules need care.
Compare more than price
Look at the network, the deductible, the group size rules and what happens when someone joins or leaves. Maryland has a progressive state income tax plus a county income tax, so the self-employed health premium deduction helps at the federal, state and local level.
See live private-plan pricing or check your options and we will run both markets for you. Prices, carriers and rules change, so treat anything here as a starting point, not a quote.