ICHRA savings in Maryland
24 Maryland counties price individual coverage below small group. Employers there save up to $2,049 per employee per year.
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · plan-year 2026, lowest-cost silver (age 50), same year both markets.
Top Maryland counties by savings
Monthly benchmark premiums: individual vs small group, 2026 plan year.
| County | Individual /mo | Small group /mo | You save | Annual / employee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Caroline County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Cecil County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Dorchester County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Garrett County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Kent County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Queen Anne's County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| St. Mary's County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Somerset County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Talbot County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Washington County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
| Wicomico County | $477 | $648 | 26.4% | $2,049 |
Showing top 12 of 24 qualifying Maryland counties. Explore them all on the interactive map.
Maryland county savings pages
Every Maryland county where the 2026 benchmark gap tops $100/employee/month — each with its own local breakdown.
- Allegany County 26.4%
- Caroline County 26.4%
- Cecil County 26.4%
- Dorchester County 26.4%
- Garrett County 26.4%
- Kent County 26.4%
- Queen Anne's County 26.4%
- St. Mary's County 26.4%
- Somerset County 26.4%
- Talbot County 26.4%
- Washington County 26.4%
- Wicomico County 26.4%
- Worcester County 26.4%
The Maryland picture
Maryland splits sharply along Interstate 70. On 2026 silver-plan data, 24 counties qualify, but the widest estimated gap sits in the far west: Allegany County shows roughly $171 per employee per month, about 26.4% below comparable small-group coverage, while the Washington, D.C. suburbs mostly don't qualify at all. No Maryland county shows an estimated gap above $200. For 2027, insurers have filed a proposed average individual-market increase of 13.7% — a development to watch, though it plays no part in these estimates.
A Cumberland manufacturer and a Bethesda consultancy are effectively operating in different insurance economies. Western Maryland employers in Allegany County see the state's widest estimated spread on 2026 data, and much of the qualifying territory follows that westward pattern, while firms inside the Capital Beltway generally find their individual and small-group markets priced too close together to qualify. For companies with employees spread across the state, that geography can matter more than headcount.
Maryland ICHRA FAQs
How much can employers save with an ICHRA in Maryland?
Across 24 qualifying Maryland counties, the 2026 gap between small-group and individual silver coverage averages 22% — up to $2,049 per employee per year in the strongest county. Figures are plan-year-2026 estimates (lowest-cost silver, age 50, same year both markets), not quotes.
Which Maryland county has the biggest ICHRA savings?
Allegany County currently shows the widest 2026 spread in Maryland: individual $477/mo vs small group $648/mo — about 26.4% ($2,049/employee/year, estimated).
Does every Maryland county qualify for ICHRA savings?
No. Only counties where the individual market prices below small group make the list — 24 in Maryland for plan year 2026. In other counties a savings-driven ICHRA usually is not the right move, and an analysis will say so.
Where does this Maryland data come from?
Individual-market premiums come from the CMS Marketplace Public Use Files and small-group benchmarks from Ideon — lowest-cost silver plan, age 50, same county and same plan year (2026) on both sides.
Why does western Maryland qualify for ICHRA savings estimates when the D.C. suburbs don't?
Rating-area economics. In Allegany County and much of western Maryland, 2026 individual-market silver plans price well below comparable small-group coverage — an estimated $171 monthly gap in Allegany, about 26.4%. Closer to Washington, the two markets converge, so Montgomery and Prince George's counties generally don't show a meaningful estimated gap. An employer with offices in both regions could reasonably run an ICHRA statewide while seeing most of the estimated savings come from its western locations.
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