You can apply for Medical Assistance in Maryland at any time of year through Maryland Health Connection, by phone, by mail, or in person at a local Department of Social Services office. Medicaid has no open enrollment window, so you submit an application whenever you need coverage.1Maryland Health Connection. Frequently Asked Questions If you’re approved, coverage starts on the first day of the month you applied and can reach back up to three months earlier for unpaid medical bills.2Maryland Health Connection. When Does My Coverage Begin?
Four Ways to Apply
Online
The fastest route is marylandhealthconnection.gov. Create an account, complete the application, and upload your supporting documents in the same session. A free mobile app called Enroll MHC does the same thing from a phone or tablet.3Maryland Health Connection. Home
By Phone
Call the Maryland Health Connection Consumer Support Center at 1-855-642-8572. A representative can take your application over the phone or send you a paper version.
By Mail
Send your completed paper application and copies of supporting documents to:
Maryland Health Connection
P.O. Box 249
Lanham, MD 207034Maryland Health Connection. Submit Documents
In Person
Your local Department of Social Services office can walk you through the application. Certified navigators and brokers also provide free help, which is particularly useful if your situation is complicated, such as applying for yourself and for an elderly family member subject to asset limits.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Missing paperwork is the most common reason applications stall. Have the following ready for everyone on the application:
- Proof of identity: a valid Maryland driver’s license, state ID, passport, or country-of-origin ID. A birth certificate works for a child applicant.5Maryland Department of Health. CMS List of Accepted Documents Rev 1/23
- Proof of Maryland residency: a utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, or Wi-Fi) from the past 30 days, a rental agreement or mortgage statement, or a recent bank statement. If nothing is in your name, a signed landlord letter confirming your address together with a residency affidavit will work.5Maryland Department of Health. CMS List of Accepted Documents Rev 1/23
- Income verification: a month of pay stubs (four weekly or two biweekly). An employer letter can substitute if it’s on company letterhead, signed, and dated. For unearned income, bring Social Security benefit letters or other award letters.5Maryland Department of Health. CMS List of Accepted Documents Rev 1/23
- Social Security numbers for every person on the application.
- Existing health insurance details if anyone in the household already has a policy, including the policy number and insurer.
If you’re unsure whether a document qualifies, call 1-855-642-8572 before you submit.
Who Qualifies
You must live in Maryland, be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, and meet the income limit for your coverage group.6Maryland Department of Health. Am I Eligible for Medicaid? Your coverage group depends on age, family size, pregnancy status, and disability status. Each group has its own income ceiling, and some groups also have asset limits.
Monthly income limits as of February 1, 2026:7Maryland Department of Health. Pages – Income Limits
Adults Under 65 (138% of Federal Poverty Level)
- Single adult: $1,835
- Household of 2: $2,490
- Household of 3: $3,142
- Household of 4: $3,795
Children Under 19 (Maryland Children’s Health Program)
- Household of 2: $5,809
- Household of 3: $7,332
- Household of 4: $8,855
A family of four earning up to roughly $106,000 a year can qualify for children’s coverage, even when the parents themselves don’t qualify for adult Medicaid.7Maryland Department of Health. Pages – Income Limits
Pregnant Individuals
A household of two can earn up to $4,763 per month and a household of four up to $7,260.7Maryland Department of Health. Pages – Income Limits Non-citizen pregnant individuals who would not otherwise qualify can receive coverage from the start of pregnancy through four months after birth.8Maryland Health Connection. Good News for Noncitizen Pregnant Marylanders
Adults 65 and Older, Blind, or Disabled
These groups face much tighter limits because the category covers long-term care and supplemental benefits with separate federal rules. A single individual is capped at $350 in monthly income with a $2,500 asset limit. A household of two is capped at $392 with a $3,000 asset limit.7Maryland Department of Health. Pages – Income Limits Assets typically include bank accounts, investments, and property beyond your primary home.
If your income is slightly too high for your group, ask about Maryland’s medically needy spend-down. Unpaid or paid medical bills can bring your effective income below the Medicaid threshold for that month.9Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy
When Your Coverage Starts
Approved coverage is backdated to the first day of the month you applied. Apply on March 20, and your coverage runs from March 1.2Maryland Health Connection. When Does My Coverage Begin?
Maryland also offers retroactive coverage for up to three calendar months before your application month. If you had unpaid medical bills during that earlier window and would have qualified at the time, Medicaid can pay those bills as long as your provider accepts Medicaid.10Maryland Health Connection. What Is Retroactive Medicaid? This is a federal requirement.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 US Code 1396a – State Plans for Medical Assistance If you didn’t check the retroactive coverage box on your online application, contact your local health department or Department of Social Services to request it separately. People routinely leave thousands of dollars on the table by not knowing this exists.
What Happens After You Apply
Standard applications for adults, children, pregnant individuals, and families are processed within 45 days. Applications involving a disability determination can take up to 90 days. Most standard applications move faster than that in practice; state data shows roughly 93–95% of applications resolved within 24 hours.12Medicaid. MAGI Application Processing Time Snapshot Report: January 2024 – March 2024 Submitting every document upfront is the difference between a one-day decision and a weeks-long delay.
Your decision notice arrives by mail or through your Maryland Health Connection account. If you’re approved, you’ll choose a Managed Care Organization through Maryland’s HealthChoice program. Compare MCOs based on whether your doctors are in network, which specialists are covered, and the extra services each plan offers. You have 90 days after enrolling to switch plans; after that, changes are more limited.13Maryland Department of Health. Welcome to HealthChoice
If Your Application Is Denied
The denial notice will state the reason. Common ones are income above the limit, missing documentation, or an incomplete application. Sometimes the fix is as simple as resubmitting a document the state couldn’t verify.
If you think the decision is wrong, you have 90 days from the date on the notice to request a fair hearing.14Maryland Department of Human Services. Request for Fair Hearing A fair hearing is an administrative review before an impartial hearing officer, where you can present evidence and explain your circumstances. Request one through your local Department of Social Services or by submitting the form on the Maryland Department of Human Services website. If you’re already enrolled and get a notice reducing or ending coverage, requesting a hearing before the effective date can keep your current benefits in place until the hearing is resolved.
Keeping Your Coverage
Maryland requires you to renew your Medicaid eligibility every 12 months.15Maryland Department of Health. Providers: Your Patients Need To Renew Their Medicaid Eligibility The state first tries to verify your eligibility automatically. If it can confirm you still qualify, you don’t have to do anything. If automatic verification fails, you’ll receive a pre-filled renewal form and at least 30 days to return it with any updates.
The single most common reason people lose Medicaid is missed renewal paperwork, not loss of eligibility. Keep your mailing address and Maryland Health Connection account current so renewal notices actually reach you. Report significant changes in income or household size as they happen rather than waiting for renewal; a raise, a new household member, or a job loss can change your eligibility or move you to a different program.