Health insurance in Howard County, Maryland

Reviewed September 4, 2026 · 2024 Census data

Source: US Census Small Area Health Insurance Estimates, 2024 release. Income bands are measured against the federal poverty level.

How many here a premium tax credit would reach

5,758 uninsured people in Howard County earn inside the premium tax credit range — 43% of the county's uninsured. That is under the 51% median, so proportionally more of Howard County's uninsured sit outside the credit — below it or above the cliff. Within that band itself, 9.4% have no coverage.

Comparatively few people go uncovered

4.7% of Howard County's 280,960 under-65 residents have no health coverage — 13,282 people. That is below the Maryland rate of 7.2%, and puts Howard County in the bottom quarter of the 3,143 counties measured nationally (3,063rd).

Who falls under the Medicaid line

2,982 of Howard County's uninsured — 22%, below the 31% typical of counties nationally — earn under $22,025 a year, which in Maryland is Medicaid territory rather than marketplace territory.

The years before Medicare

2,378 people aged 50 to 64 in Howard County have no coverage, a rate of 3.7% — close to the 4.7% across all under-65 residents here. Age-rated premiums make this the most expensive group to cover before Medicare.

Howard County against Maryland

Howard County is the 6th largest of the 15 Maryland counties we publish. Its uninsured rate runs 2.5 points lower than Maryland overall and 5 points fewer of its uninsured sit in the subsidy band than statewide. Coverage among 50 to 64 year olds is better here than across Maryland.

The next largest counties

All Maryland counties · How the credit works · Enrollment dates