Maryland Long-Term Care Insurance
Compare Maryland Plans, Costs & Coverage Options
For more than 30 years, ACACIA Insurance has helped Maryland residents plan for their long-term care needs. As fully independent advisors, we compare long-term care insurance plans and highly rated companies to provide personalized, unbiased recommendations.
We review benefits, features, and pricing to help you choose the long-term care insurance coverage that fits your goals and your budget.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Do I Need Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland?
- Maryland Long-Term Care Costs
- Medicare and Long-Term Care in Maryland
- When To Buy Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland
- Types of Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland
- Maryland Long-Term Care Partnership Program
- Long-Term Care Insurance Companies in Maryland
- Cost of Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland
- Maryland Long-Term Care Insurance FAQs
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Do I Need Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland?
Many people in Maryland do not realize how often long-term care is needed as they get older or how expensive it can be. It can happen suddenly, and the cost can be different depending on where you live, whether that is Baltimore, Salisbury, or a smaller town. Knowing the risk and the cost of care in your area can help you decide if long-term care insurance is a good way to protect your money and help your family.
The Likelihood of Needing Care
Maryland residents face the same long-term care risks as the rest of the country. Nearly 70% of people turning 65 today will need some form of long-term care in the future, with an average duration of about three years.1
How Long Care Lasts
For Maryland families, this means planning ahead is essential. While one-third of people may never need long-term care, 20% will need it for longer than 5 years. On average, women need 3.7 years of care while men need 2.2 years.2
What Care Costs in Maryland
In 2026, the average for 3 years of long-term care expenses in Maryland is $441,381, or about $147,127 per year. By 2046, that figure is projected to rise to $967,119, or $322,373 per year.3
Maryland Long-Term Care Costs
Long-Term Care Costs in Maryland 2026 | |||
| Region | Nursing Home (private room) annual / monthly | Assisted Living (private room) annual / monthly | Home Health Aide (44 hrs/week) annual / monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland Average Cost | $147,127 $12,261 a month | $92,679 $7,723 a month | $78,699 $6,558 a month |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $160,951 $13,413 a month | $89,007 $7,417 a month | $77,584 $6,465 a month |
| Cecil County | $176,799 $14,733 a month | $96,699 $8,058 a month | $79,572 $6,631 a month |
| Hagerstown | $159,051 $13,254 a month | $87,367 $7,281 a month | $76,649 $6,387 a month |
| Lexington Park | $134,913 $11,243 a month | $89,573 $7,464 a month | $70,994 $5,916 a month |
| Salisbury | $176,103 $14,675 a month | $86,061 $7,172 a month | $64,179 $5,348 a month |
| Suburban D.C. Area | $173,147 $14,429 a month | $108,999 $9,083 a month | $83,274 $6,940 a month |
| Source: Nationwide Financial 2026 Cost of Care Survey (HVS), accessed September 23, 2026. Monthly figures are the annual cost divided by twelve. | |||
Medicare and Long-Term Care in Maryland
Medicare 
is built for recovery, not for ongoing care. It may pay for skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay, but only while skilled care remains medically necessary. In 2026 there is no daily coinsurance for days 1 through 20. Days 21 to 100 cost $217 a day. Coverage stops at 100 days per benefit period. Help with bathing, dressing and eating is not covered when that is the only support you need.
Maryland Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance, pays for long-term care once a person qualifies on both health and finances. The resource test is strict. A single applicant can generally keep no more than $2,500 in countable resources. A spouse who remains at home may keep up to $162,660 in 2026. Five years of financial records come under review. Money given away for less than fair value in that window can delay coverage.
According to the Nationwide Financial 2026 Cost of Care Survey, a private nursing home room in Maryland averages $147,127 a year. That is $31,139 above the national average of $115,988. Assisted living runs $92,679 here, against $70,349 nationally. Three years in a nursing home comes to roughly $441,000. Paying that without coverage means drawing down income and savings.
Both programs follow rules that lawmakers can rewrite. A private policy is a contract, and its terms are set when you buy it. Families who want to choose their own benefits tend to weigh that difference heavily.
Learn more about Medicare and custodial care ➜
When To Buy Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland
What is the right age to buy long-term care insurance? No single age fits everyone. Health, budget and goals all shape the answer. These patterns hold for most Maryland buyers:
- Mid 50s to early 60s. The most common window. Rates are still moderate, and health discounts remain within reach.
- Your 40s. Lower premiums and an easier approval, in exchange for more years of payments.
- Late 60s and beyond. Still workable for many. Pricing climbs, declines happen more often and discounts usually disappear.
Nursing home prices in Maryland rise about 4% a year. The national pace is 3.5%. Over a long benefit period that gap compounds, which makes inflation protection worth a close look.
Already past 65? Do not assume it is too late. Carriers underwrite to different standards, and products vary just as widely. Plenty of applicants at that age still qualify. A licensed specialist can review your situation and put real numbers next to it.
Find Out If You QualifyTypes of Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland
Maryland residents have several long-term care insurance options to protect against the high costs of care. Understanding each type helps you choose the best coverage for your situation and budget.
Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance
- What It Is: A standalone policy specifically designed to cover comprehensive long-term care expenses, including in-home care, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. These policies are fully portable and provide coverage wherever you receive care.
- Coverage Benefits: Provides the most extensive long-term care coverage per dollar spent with flexible daily or monthly benefit amounts for your selected benefit period. Ideal for Maryland residents planning comprehensive care coverage.
- Premium Structure: Recurring payments (monthly, quarterly, or annually). Premiums may experience rate adjustments over time based on insurance company claims experience.
- Health Requirements: Requires full medical underwriting with stricter health qualifications than hybrid options. Your current health can significantly impact eligibility and premium costs for Maryland applicants.
- Tax Advantages for Maryland Residents: Premiums for tax-qualified long-term care insurance policies may qualify as medical expenses for federal tax deductions (subject to income thresholds). Maryland adds a one-time state tax credit of up to $500 for each insured person. Benefits received are generally tax-free.
- About Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance >
Life Insurance with Long-Term Care Rider (Hybrid Life + LTC)
- What It Is: A permanent life insurance policy with an added LTC benefit rider that allows policyholders to access the death benefit early for qualified long-term care expenses, regardless of where care is received.
- Coverage Benefits: Typically provides 2-4% of the death benefit monthly for long-term care with guaranteed cash value growth. Unused benefits pass to beneficiaries tax-free.
- Premium Structure: Guaranteed level premiums designed not to increase. Higher initial cost than traditional LTC insurance but protected from future rate increases. Can provide important stability for Maryland residents on fixed incomes.
- Health Requirements: Moderate medical underwriting with more flexible health guidelines than traditional LTC insurance, making qualification easier for many Maryland applicants with health issues.
- Tax Advantages for Maryland Residents: Can utilize 1035 exchanges from appropriate existing policies without tax consequences and can be funded with qualified retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s).
- About Life Insurance with Long-Term Care >
Annuity with Long-Term Care Rider (LTC Annuity)
- What It Is: A fixed rate or indexed deferred annuity contract with an integrated long-term care benefit rider, ideal for those seeking asset protection with a simplified approval process. Coverage is portable and can be used anywhere care is needed.
- Coverage Benefits: Typically multiplies your annuity value by 2-3 times for long-term care expenses. For example, a $100,000 annuity might provide $200,000-$300,000 in LTC coverage. If not exhausted for healthcare, the annuity value transfers to your estate at death.
- Premium Structure: Can be purchased with a single premium payment with NO future premium payments or rate increases. Best for Maryland residents with existing assets to reposition for long-term care planning.
- Health Requirements: Simplified underwriting with the most lenient health qualifications, sometimes requiring only a phone interview rather than medical exams or records review. Ideal for Maryland residents with health concerns.
- Tax Advantages for Maryland Residents: Supports tax-free 1035 exchanges from existing annuities, and LTC benefits are generally received tax-free under current Maryland and federal tax regulations.
- About Long-Term Care Annuities >
Short-Term Care Insurance
- What It Is: Provides coverage for care in a nursing home, assisted living, or at home for a shorter duration, typically up to 12 months. Coverage is portable and can be used wherever you need short-term care.
- Coverage Benefits: Helps cover costs for short-term care needs, including recovery from surgery, illness, or injury. Most policies have a 0-day deductible with benefits paid as soon as you qualify. This bridges gaps before long-term care insurance or Medicare coverage begins for services like home health aides.
- Premium Structure: Generally lower than long-term care insurance due to the shorter benefit period, making it an affordable option for many Maryland families.
- Health Requirements: Often features simplified underwriting with fewer health questions, making it easier to qualify. Very helpful for Maryland residents who may not meet traditional long-term care insurance health or age requirements.
- About Short-Term Care Insurance >
Maryland Long-Term Care Partnership Program
A Maryland Long-Term Care Partnership Program policy lets you keep savings that Medicaid would otherwise expect you to spend. The exchange is dollar for dollar. Every dollar the policy pays in benefits shelters a dollar of countable resources when the state reviews your eligibility. A policy that has paid out $300,000 would shelter $300,000, on top of the $2,500 a single applicant may already keep. The rest of the eligibility test still applies.
Not every policy qualifies. Maryland sets the inflation rule by your age when the policy is issued. Under 61, the policy must carry compound inflation protection. From 61 through 75, some inflation protection is required, but you may turn down the standard level. At 76 and older it becomes optional. Partnership status is fixed at issue, so ask before you sign.
Maryland also runs Medicaid estate recovery. The state can seek repayment from the estate of someone who received benefits at 55 or older. A Partnership policy limits that claim. An amount equal to what the policy paid before death stays protected.
That is the practical appeal. Coverage pays first, and if the benefits run out, the protected savings remain.
Learn how Long-Term Care Partnership programs work nationwide ➜
Long-Term Care Insurance Companies in Maryland
Maryland residents have access to long-term care insurance from a wide range of trusted, financially strong carriers. We work with multiple top-rated LTC insurance providers to help you find a plan that fits your age, health, and budget, whether you’re looking for a traditional policy or a hybrid life + LTC option.
Below is a list of long-term care insurance companies available in Maryland:
USAA member? See USAA long-term care insurance options >
AARP member? Review AARP long-term care insurance >
- Bankers Life & Casualty
- Brighthouse Financial
- Global Atlantic
- LifeSecure
- Mutual of Omaha
- National Guardian Life (NGL)
- Nationwide Life Insurance Company
- New York Life
- Northwestern Mutual
- State Farm
- OneAmerica
- Securian Financial
- Thrivent Financial
These companies offer a mix of traditional and asset-based (hybrid) long-term care insurance policies. Availability and pricing vary based on your age, health history, and the type of coverage you need.
Read reviews and ratings of long-term care insurance companies ➜
Cost of Long-Term Care Insurance in Maryland
Most Maryland residents pay about $2,000 to $3,000 per year for a comprehensive traditional long-term care policy. Costs can range from $1,500 to $5,000 annually depending on age, health, and plan design.
Several factors influence your premium:
- Age at purchase: Buying at 55 vs 65 can save thousands over time
- Current health status: Better health means lower rates
- Daily or monthly benefit amount: Typically $100 to $300 per day
- Total coverage limit: Usually $100,000 to $500,000+
- Elimination period: 30, 60, or 90-day waiting period before benefits start
- Inflation protection: Protects against rising care costs
Why quotes vary: Pricing depends on underwriting and plan design. Insurers weigh these factors differently, so comparing multiple carriers helps you find the best value.
Maryland Long-Term Care Insurance Quotes
Our licensed Maryland professionals help you compare long-term care insurance options with clear, unbiased guidance. You’ll receive personalized help with:
✔ Finding coverage that fits your budget and the protection you want
✔ Matching you with top-rated Maryland insurers based on your needs
✔ Exploring options even if you have pre-existing health conditions
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Maryland Long-Term Care Insurance FAQs
Most Maryland buyers pay $2,000 to $3,000 a year for traditional coverage, which is about $167 to $250 a month. The full range runs $1,500 to $5,000 a year, or $125 to $417 a month. Where you land depends on your age at purchase, your health, the benefit amount, the waiting period and whether you add inflation protection.
A private nursing home room averages $12,261 a month statewide in 2026. Assisted living runs $7,723. A home health aide at 44 hours a week costs $6,558. Those figures come from the Nationwide Financial 2026 Cost of Care Survey. They work out to $147,127, $92,679 and $78,699 a year.
Yes. The Suburban D.C. Area covers Frederick, Montgomery, Charles and Prince George’s counties, including Bowie and Waldorf. A private nursing home room there averages $173,147 a year. That is $26,020 above the state average, or $14,429 a month against $12,261. Assisted living shows the widest gap in Maryland, at $108,999 against $92,679. Home care runs $83,274 against $78,699.
Comprehensive policies do. Traditional, hybrid life and LTC annuity coverage can all pay for care at home as well as in a facility. Benefits usually start once you need help with two of six daily activities, such as bathing or dressing, or need supervision because of cognitive impairment. A waiting period you choose at purchase applies first.
Yes. A Partnership-qualified policy lets you keep a dollar of savings for every dollar it pays in benefits. That is on top of the $2,500 a single applicant may hold. Maryland policies approved on or after January 1, 2009 can qualify. Partnership policies bought in other states that belong to the national reciprocity compact also count, so moving here does not cost you that protection.
Last updated: September 25, 2026
Written by: Craig Matesky, President, ACACIA Insurance
Reviewed by: Mike Berger, National Sales Manager
Sources: