A service of East Coast Health Advisors
Baltimore City Medicare helpMedicare Advantage and Medicaid help that fits Baltimore
Clear answers about Advantage plans, dual eligible (D-SNP) plans and Medicaid, from licensed Medicare brokers who serve Baltimore City families. Medicare is all we do.
Start with the topic closest to you
Each guide explains the tradeoffs in plain words, so you can decide with confidence.
Medicare Advantage in Baltimore City
See how networks, extra benefits and yearly cost limits work for people who live in the city, and which questions to ask first.
Learn more →Dual eligible and D-SNP plans
If you have Medicare and Medicaid, there are plans built for you. Learn who qualifies and how to compare them.
Learn more →Medicare and Medicaid together
Find out who pays first, what Maryland Medicaid may add and how long-term care fits into the picture.
Learn more →Baltimore City plans are not Baltimore County plans
Medicare Advantage plans are sold county by county. Baltimore became an independent city in 1851 and sits outside every county, so city residents shop in their own service area. A plan your relative in the county uses may not be offered in the city, or may come with different doctors and benefits.
That matters because so much care here runs through a handful of hospital systems: the Johns Hopkins Hospital in East Baltimore, Sinai Hospital in Northwest Baltimore and Mercy Medical Center downtown. Network participation varies by plan, so we check your own doctors, hospital and pharmacy first.
More than half a million people live in the city (585,708 at the 2020 census), and Baltimore has been home to a large Black community for generations, from Old West Baltimore to Northwest Baltimore. This site is for every Baltimore resident on Medicare. We wrote it with Black Baltimore families in mind, because clear, trusted information matters most when plans are confusing. See our local hospitals and health resources.
Local Medicare brokers who explain, not pressure
We are East Coast Health Advisors, an independent, licensed Medicare agency serving seniors since 2011. This site is a service of East Coast Health Advisors, built for Baltimore City.
- Independent: we compare the plans we represent
- Free to you: insurance companies pay us, not you
- Medicare is all we do, every day
- No pressure and no obligation
Learn more about East Coast Health Advisors.
Get Medicare answers by email or phone
Tell us a little about yourself and a licensed member of our team will follow up. Our help is free to you, and there is no obligation.
Questions we hear in Baltimore
What is a D-SNP plan?
A D-SNP, or Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, is a type of Medicare Advantage plan made for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. It bundles your Medicare coverage with extra support, and many plans add benefits such as an allowance for over-the-counter items. Plans and benefits vary, so we compare what is offered in Baltimore City.
Can I have Medicare and Medicaid at the same time?
Yes. Many people in Baltimore have both. Medicare usually pays first, and Medicaid may help with costs Medicare leaves behind, depending on which Medicaid program you qualify for. Maryland Medicaid decides who qualifies, and we can explain what to expect.
Does it cost anything to talk with you?
No. Our help is free to you. We are licensed brokers paid by the insurance companies we represent when someone enrolls, so you never get a bill from us. There is no pressure and no obligation.
When can I change my Medicare Advantage plan?
Most people can switch during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, with the new plan starting January 1. If you are already in an Advantage plan, there is also an Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31. People with Medicaid may have extra chances to change during the year, and the rules have been changing, so call us before you drop any coverage.
Helpful guides
Short, practical reads for every stage of choosing coverage.
Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs
Programs that may lower your premiums and drug costs, and the paperwork to have ready.
Read more →Baltimore hospitals and health resources
Hospitals, urgent care and adult day care, with notes on how Medicare and Medicaid apply.
Read more →Your annual enrollment checklist
Five calm steps for October 15 through December 7, so nothing gets missed.
Read more →Important information
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 25 organizations which offer 36 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. East Coast Health Advisors is an independently licensed insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation to sell insurance.