2026 Medicare Advantage Plans in Howard County, MD
Last update: . Enrollment data updated: June 13, 2026
In Howard County, MD, there are 20 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2026. Of these, 9 offer a $0 monthly premium, and about 25% are rated 4 stars or higher based on CMS quality ratings.
Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are not included in the figures shown above. View Special Needs Plans in Howard County, MD. Or explore all Medicare Options available in Howard County, MD.
Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow members to use both in-network and out-of-network providers. Out-of-network care typically costs more, but PPOs offer greater flexibility in how care is accessed.
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Complete | $42 | $7,300 | $0 | H7379-002-0 | |
| CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential | $0 | $8,300 | $0 | H7379-001-0 | |
| CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Salute | $0 | $5,900 | N/A | H7379-003-0 | |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD | $95 | $7,550 | $615 | H3890-001-0 | |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD Plus | $155 | $7,550 | $615 | H3890-002-0 | |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD Primary | $5 | $7,550 | $590 | H3890-005-0 |
What is the total number of PPO plans offered in Howard?
Howard County has 6 PPO plans for 2026, with 3,219 enrolled.
How much do PPO plans cost in Howard?
The typical PPO premium in Howard is $49.50, and 2 plans have no monthly premium.
Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
HMO plans typically require members to use in-network providers and facilities, except in emergencies. In return, HMOs often offer lower monthly premiums and reduced cost-sharing.
- Total HMO Plans
- 11
- Average Monthly Premium
- $21.09/mo
- Total HMO Enrollment
- 2,718
- $0 Premium HMO Plans
- 7
- Average MOOP
- $7,841
- Top HMO by Enrollment
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Value 2 MD (HMO) — 808 enrollees
- HMO Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 4
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Liberty | $0 | $5,900 | N/A | H2172-005-0 | |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Value 2 MD | $0 | $8,900 | $0 | H2172-026-0 | |
| Alterwood Advantage Choice | $30 | $7,500 | $0 | H9306-008-1 | |
| Alterwood Advantage Choice Plus | $122 | $6,500 | $0 | H9306-002-0 | |
| Alterwood Advantage Freedom | $0 | $9,250 | N/A | H9306-003-0 | |
| Alterwood Advantage Select | $0 | $7,500 | $295 | H9306-009-1 | |
| Humana Gold Plus H6622-081 | $35 | $8,950 | $615 | H6622-081-0 | |
| Humana Gold Plus H6622-095 | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H6622-095-0 | |
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback | $0 | $6,750 | N/A | H6622-094-0 | |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD | $45 | $8,950 | $590 | H1225-001-0 | |
| Johns Hopkins Advantage MD Tribute | $0 | $6,800 | N/A | H1225-004-0 |
- What is the average monthly premium for HMO plans?
- HMO plans in Howard cost $21.09 per month on average.
- Which HMO plan is most popular in Howard?
- The most popular HMO plan in Howard is Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Value 2 MD (HMO), with 808 enrollees.
- How many HMO plans in Howard do not include drug coverage?
- There are 4 HMO plans in Howard without prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Plans
HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS) plans combine HMO network requirements with limited out-of-network access. Care outside the network typically costs more, but HMO-POS plans provide added flexibility compared with standard HMOs.
- Total HMO-POS Plans 3
- Average Monthly Premium $56.67/mo
- Total HMO-POS Enrollment 1,236
- $0 Premium HMO-POS Plans 0
- Average MOOP $7,367
- Top HMO-POS by Enrollment Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 2 MD (HMO-POS) — 572 enrollees
- HMO-POS Plans Without Drug Coverage 0
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Care Plus MD | $28 | $7,500 | $150 | H2172-014-0 | |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage High MD | $104 | $5,700 | $0 | H2172-002-0 | |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 2 MD | $38 | $8,900 | $0 | H2172-022-0 |
What is the total number of HMO-POS plans in Howard?
There are 3 HMO-POS plans in 2026, covering 1,236 enrollees.
How much do HMO-POS plans cost in Howard?
The average HMO-POS premium in Howard is $56.67 per month, with 0 plans offering $0 premiums.
What is the leading HMO-POS plan in Howard?
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard 2 MD (HMO-POS) is the top HMO-POS in Howard, with 572 enrollees.
What is the number of HMO-POS plans without Part D coverage in Howard?
0 HMO-POS plans in Howard do not include prescription drug coverage.
The table below shows CMS star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans in Howard County, MD for 2026.
| Rating Category | Number of Plans | Percent of Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Stars | No 5-star plans available. | 0% |
| 4 Stars (includes 5 Stars) | 5 | 25% |
| 3 Stars | 15 | 75% |
| Below 3 Stars | 0 | 0% |
| Not Rated | 0 | 0% |
| Average Rating | 3.68 | |
* Medicare Advantage star ratings are determined by CMS each year using a standardized 5-star rating system.
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files — Last accessed June 13, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance Data — Last accessed June 13, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage & Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed June 13, 2026
This page presents county-level Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) data, including plan counts, enrollment totals, averages, and percentage distributions, derived from CMS datasets using a standardized aggregation approach.
Data sources and methodology documentation .
- Medicare.gov, "Compare types of Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- Medicare.gov, "Your coverage options" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- AARP.org, "The Big Choice: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
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Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard .
Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Editorial Steward, using a standardized, data-driven methodology for accurate, non-commercial Medicare plan interpretation and resolution.