Medicare Advantage

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage in Maryland for 2027: 5 Plans

BALTIMORE — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage will field 5 Medicare Advantage plans across Maryland for the 2027 plan year, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files. All 5 are PPO plans, 4 include drug coverage, and 2 are new for the coming year. None of the carrier's 2027 Maryland plans are Special Needs Plans. Because Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, a plan listed statewide may or may not appear on the shelf where you live.

This explainer is published by an independent Medicare education site. It is privately owned and is not the government, not affiliated with the government, and not affiliated with CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage or any other insurance carrier.

How many CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Maryland for 2027?

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage is offering 5 Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland for 2027, all structured as PPOs. Of those 5, 4 include Part D prescription drug coverage and 1 does not. The carrier is not offering any Dual-Eligible (D-SNP), Chronic Condition (C-SNP) or Institutional (I-SNP) Special Needs Plans in Maryland for 2027. For context from the CMS Landscape file, 8 other carriers also offer Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland for 2027, and across the state all carriers together list 47 plans.

Which CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage plans cover the most Maryland counties in 2027?

By county reach in Maryland for 2027, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Salute (PPO) has the widest footprint among the carrier's plans, listed in 24 counties; it does not include drug coverage. The remaining plans — CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Complete (PPO), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Essential (PPO), and the two new CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Signature (PPO) plans — are offered in 18, 16, 18, and 6 counties respectively, and each of those four includes drug coverage. The full list, including county counts for each plan, is shown as a table on this page.

What is new or not returning from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage in Maryland for 2027?

For Maryland in 2027, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage is adding 2 new plans and discontinuing 0. The new entries are the two CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Signature (PPO) plans, both PPOs with drug coverage, listed respectively in 18 and 6 Maryland counties. Because no plans are leaving the carrier's Maryland lineup for 2027, current members will not see a non-renewal from this carrier based on the CMS Landscape file — though a specific plan may still change which counties it covers, so it is worth confirming your own county.

How do I check whether a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage plan is offered in my Maryland county for 2027?

To confirm whether a specific CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage plan is offered in your Maryland county for 2027, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county, so a plan that appears in a statewide count may not be on the shelf in your ZIP code. When you look a plan up, you can also:

• Check the plan's provider directory to see whether your doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals are in network for 2027.
• Check the plan's formulary (drug list) to see whether each prescription you take is covered, and under what rules.
• Read the plan's Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage for the full rules on cost sharing, referrals and prior authorization.

This independent site does not publish premiums, copays, benefits, networks or star ratings for individual plans; those details come from Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or the plan's own documents.

What should Maryland Medicare beneficiaries do before December 7, 2026?

Before December 7, 2026, Maryland beneficiaries should review their current coverage against their 2027 options so any change takes effect on January 1, 2027. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. During that window you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan, and you can add, change or drop Part D drug coverage. A reasonable checklist:

• Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your current plan mailed, which describes what is changing for 2027.
• Make a short list of your doctors, pharmacies and prescriptions, then test each 2027 plan you are considering against that list on Medicare.gov.
• If a plan you are interested in is one of the two new CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Signature (PPO) plans, confirm it is offered in your county, since one is listed in 18 counties and the other in 6.

There is no advantage to rushing; the deadline is simply December 7, 2026.

Where can Maryland residents get free help comparing Medicare plans for 2027?

Maryland residents can get free, unbiased help with 2027 Medicare choices directly from Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and online at medicare.gov. The Medicare Plan Finder on medicare.gov is the official tool for comparing Medicare Advantage and Part D plans available in your county, including those from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage and the 8 other carriers in Maryland's 2027 landscape. For questions about Medicare eligibility and enrollment timing tied to turning 65 or to Social Security, the Social Security Administration can also help.