In 2022, Medicare transfers in Baltimore County totaled $2.65 billion, amounting to $3,126 per capita, or 27.2% of total government transfers, according to information from the Economic Innovation Group.
Among all government transfer programs, Medicare was the second largest contributor in the county. Social Security was the largest contributor, totaling $3.36 billion, equating to $3,970 per capita and making up 34.5% of total transfers.
Comparatively, Medicare transfers across Maryland amounted to $16.2 billion, ranking second highest among all transfer types within the state. This translates to an average of $2,627 per capita, or 24.5% of total government transfers. Including all transfer types, government transfer payments totaled $66.11 billion, accounting for 15.3% of residents’ total income, with an average of $10,724 per resident.
Medicaid was the third largest contributor in Baltimore County in 2022, accounting for $2.04 billion, averaging $2,411 per capita, representing 21% of transfers. Income Maintenance transfers provided another $1.01 billion, averaging $1,193 per capita and comprising 10.4% of government support, making them the smallest contributors.
Government transfer payments are non-repayable funds provided by federal, state, or local governments to support individuals in need. These payments aim to stabilize economic conditions and provide financial support during hardships. Key programs include Social Security transfers (retirement benefits), Medicare transfers (healthcare for seniors), Medicaid transfers (healthcare for low-income individuals), and income maintenance transfers (financial assistance for basic needs).
With 18.2% of the population aged 65 and older, Baltimore County has a significant demand for programs like Social Security and Medicare. Despite this aid, the total per capita income in Baltimore County, excluding government transfers was $56,321, which is noticeably below the county’s total income of $67,818, emphasizing the role of government transfers in overall income.
When comparing 2022 to the previous year, Baltimore County saw an increase in its Medicare transfer dependency by 0.2%, reflecting both rising transfer amounts and stagnating or insufficient other sources of income.
Government transfers have long been a modest financial safety net, historically comprising only a small fraction of Americans’ income. However, since the 1970s—sometimes dubbed the “Great Transfer-mation”—dependency has surged from 8.2% (or $2,022 per capita in inflation-adjusted 2022 dollars) in 1970 to 17.6% (or $11,542 per capita) in 2022 nationwide. In Baltimore County, reliance on government transfers has similarly increased from 4.2% (or $1,245 per capita) in 1970 to 17% (or $11,498 per capita) in 2022, reflecting broader national trends.
According to the Economic Innovation Group’s analysis, these trends are not merely short-term responses to economic pressures but rather reflect a profound, long-term transformation in how government support is integrated into American life. The study illustrates that structural shifts—from rising healthcare expenses and demographic changes to stagnant wages—have significantly increased dependency on government transfers.
| County | Rank | Dependency on Transfers (%) | % Population 65+ | Social Security Transfers (%) | Medicare Transfers (%) | Medicaid Transfers (%) | Income Maintenance Transfers (%) | Per Capita Transfers ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore (Independent City) | 1 | 30.9% | 15.4% | 5.1% | 6.1% | 13.5% | 4.9% | $18,497 |
| Baltimore County | 2 | 17% | 18.2% | 5.9% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 1.8% | $11,498 |
| Baltimore city | 2 | 17% | 18.2% | 5.9% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 1.8% | $11,498 |
| Montgomery County | 4 | 9% | 17.1% | 3.4% | 2.3% | 1.7% | 0.8% | $8,428 |
| Prince George’s County | 5 | 16.9% | 15.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 2.1% | $8,934 |
| Anne Arundel County | 6 | 11.8% | 15.9% | 4.4% | 3% | 1.9% | 1% | $9,317 |
| Harford County | 7 | 15.4% | 17.4% | 5.8% | 4.2% | 2.4% | 1.2% | $10,398 |
| Howard County | 8 | 8.7% | 15.3% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.3% | 0.7% | $7,737 |
| Frederick County | 9 | 11.8% | 15.3% | 4.5% | 3.2% | 1.9% | 0.9% | $8,516 |
| Washington County | 10 | 23.4% | 18% | 7.6% | 5.9% | 5.4% | 2.7% | $12,503 |
| Carroll County | 11 | 13.8% | 17.9% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 0.8% | $9,801 |
| Charles County | 12 | 14.9% | 13.7% | 4.4% | 3.4% | 2.5% | 1.5% | $9,377 |
| Wicomico County | 13 | 28.5% | 16.8% | 8.3% | 6.1% | 8.1% | 3.7% | $13,146 |
| Cecil County | 14 | 21.5% | 17.1% | 7% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 2.2% | $12,027 |
| Allegany County | 15 | 37.6% | 21.2% | 10% | 9.3% | 11.1% | 3.8% | $17,387 |
| St. Mary’s County | 16 | 14.7% | 14.1% | 4.5% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 1.6% | $9,698 |
| Calvert County | 17 | 13.9% | 16.3% | 5.2% | 3.6% | 2.3% | 1% | $9,840 |
| Worcester County | 18 | 23.7% | 28.8% | 9.6% | 6.8% | 3.8% | 1.6% | $15,267 |
| Talbot County | 19 | 17.5% | 29.9% | 7.3% | 5.2% | 2.5% | 1.2% | $15,472 |
| Queen Anne’s County | 20 | 13.8% | 20.5% | 5.8% | 3.8% | 2.2% | 0.9% | $10,978 |
| Dorchester County | 21 | 29.4% | 23.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% | 7.9% | 3.8% | $16,395 |
| Caroline County | 22 | 26% | 17.5% | 7.3% | 6% | 8% | 3.1% | $14,452 |
| Garrett County | 23 | 27.4% | 24.3% | 9.4% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 2.3% | $14,503 |
| Somerset County | 24 | 37.8% | 18.1% | 10.2% | 7.6% | 11.7% | 5.4% | $14,555 |
| Kent County | 25 | 23.7% | 28% | 9% | 7% | 4.4% | 1.8% | $16,487 |
