If you live in Maryland and you have been searching for how and when to change your Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, you have probably found confusing answers, because the rules depend on which type of plan you have. Here is a clear Maryland-specific guide that separates the two, with the federal windows that apply everywhere and what to check for Maryland in particular.
The quick answer for Maryland
- Medicare Advantage: you can generally change during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) if you are already in an Advantage plan, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify. These windows are set by Medicare, so they are the same in Maryland as in every state.
- Medigap: there is no annual deadline, but whether you can switch without health questions depends on protections that include some state rules. See below for what we found for Maryland.
Medicare Advantage changes in Maryland
- Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7). Change plans for the following January 1. See our Annual Enrollment guide.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan 1 – Mar 31). If you are already in an Advantage plan, you get one change. Read the full guide.
- Special Enrollment Periods. Triggered by moving to a new area, losing other coverage, your plan ending, or qualifying for Extra Help or Medicaid, among others. See when you can switch plans.
Medigap changes in Maryland
Maryland is reported in 2026 sources as having a Medigap birthday rule. Reports describe a short window of about 30 days following your birthday to switch to a plan with equal or lesser benefits without health questions, though sources differ by a day or so and do not agree on which insurers you may choose. Confirm the current window and carrier rules with the Maryland Insurance Administration before relying on it, and note that missing the window generally returns you to underwriting.
Regardless of state, you generally have protection in your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period and in certain federal guaranteed-issue situations. Our national guide, when can I change my Medigap plan, explains each one.
Not sure which Medicare option fits you?
We'll compare what's available at your address and check your doctors and drugs — free, no pressure.
Get my plan reviewWhat to think about in Maryland
Maryland residents often receive care in several places, such as Baltimore, the D.C. suburbs, or across the Delaware and Virginia lines, so network coverage matters. People near the Eastern Shore and western Maryland can have fewer in-network options than those in the central corridor. Plan availability varies by county, so compare options at your address and confirm that the hospitals you actually use are included. We serve people in and around Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, Howard County, Annapolis and the Eastern Shore, and we handle everything by phone.
Common situations people ask about
- "My doctor left my plan's network." You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period in some cases, and you can compare plans at the next window. See what to do when a plan drops your doctor.
- "My premium or drug costs went up." Review your Annual Notice of Change and compare during the next open window.
- "I moved within Maryland." A move to a different county can change which plans you can choose, and may open a Special Enrollment Period.
- "I want to move from Advantage back to Original Medicare." Check your Medigap options before you cancel. Read leaving Medicare Advantage.
- "I have both Medicare and Medicaid." You may have more frequent change opportunities. See Medicaid and dual-eligible options.
- "I commute across the Maryland line." If your doctors are in D.C. or Virginia, confirm they are in network before you switch.
A checklist before you change anything in Maryland
- Identify which window you are in (AEP, MA-OEP, SEP, or Medigap rules).
- List your doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and medications.
- Check each against the plan you are considering at your Maryland address.
- If it is Medigap, find out whether underwriting applies and apply before you cancel.
- Confirm the effective date in writing.
How Honorbrook helps Maryland residents
We are an independent agency licensed in Maryland and 10 other states. We compare plans offered at your address across many carriers, check your doctors and drugs, and explain the trade-offs plainly. Our help is free because carriers pay us, and your premium is the same whether you use an agent or enroll yourself. See our Maryland Medicare page for more about how we work in your state.
Medicare Advantage by county in Maryland
Medicare plan choices are set county by county. Statewide, about 24.8% of people with Medicare in Maryland are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (CMS, September 2026). Here are the 10 largest counties by residents age 65 and older:
| County | Residents 65+ | Medicare Advantage share |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 187,319 | 22.5% |
| Baltimore County | 157,919 | 25.8% |
| Prince George's County | 148,087 | 30.9% |
| Anne Arundel County | 97,887 | 19.8% |
| Baltimore City | 89,474 | 36.8% |
| Howard County | 53,280 | 19.3% |
| Harford County | 47,686 | 24.8% |
| Frederick County | 45,824 | 20.3% |
| Carroll County | 32,310 | 20.5% |
| Washington County | 28,617 | 24.1% |
See every county on our Maryland county directory or our Maryland Medicare hub. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2023 estimates; CMS Medicare Advantage State/County Penetration.
Changing Medicare plans in other states
We are licensed in 11 states. The enrollment windows are federal and the same everywhere, but plan choices and free local help are state-specific:
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Virginia?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in North Carolina?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in South Carolina?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Georgia?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Alabama?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Louisiana?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Texas?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Michigan?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in Indiana?
- When can I change my Medicare plan in West Virginia?