Maryland Medicaid eligibility turns on which group you fall into. Most adults aged 19 through 64 qualify if their household income sits at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level — $1,835 a month for a single person as of February 2026. Children and pregnant women qualify at considerably higher income levels. Seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone seeking long-term care face a tighter income limit, an asset test, and additional rules that don’t apply to the expansion group.
Baseline Requirements for Every Applicant
Three things apply before income ever enters the picture. You must be a Maryland resident. You must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified non-citizen with an eligible immigration status. And you must provide a Social Security Number for yourself and every household member on the application. That last one is federal law, not a Maryland quirk.1eCFR. 42 CFR 435.910 – Use of Social Security Number
Income Limits for Adults Aged 19 Through 64
Maryland adopted Medicaid expansion, so adults in this age range qualify based on income alone. No asset test. Savings accounts, a car, a house — none of it counts. Eligibility is calculated using Modified Adjusted Gross Income.
The Maryland Department of Health publishes these monthly income limits, effective February 1, 2026, based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines:2HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines: 48 Contiguous States
- 1 person: $1,835
- 2 people: $2,490
- 3 people: $3,142
- 4 people: $3,795
- 5 people: $4,449
- 6 people: $5,102
- 7 people: $5,755
- 8 people: $6,409
Income Limits for Children
Children under 19 qualify at much higher income levels than adults. Standard Medicaid covers kids in lower-income households, and the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) extends coverage to uninsured children in families earning up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.3Medicaid.gov. Maryland Title XXI State Plan Families slightly above that threshold can use MCHP Premium, which stretches eligibility to 322% of the poverty level in exchange for a small monthly premium.
The monthly income limits for children’s coverage (at the MCHP Premium ceiling) effective February 2026:4Maryland Department of Health. Income and Asset Limits by Coverage Group and Program
- 1 person: $4,283
- 2 people: $5,809
- 3 people: $7,332
- 4 people: $8,855
No asset test applies.
Income Limits for Pregnant Women
Pregnant applicants qualify at up to 264% of the Federal Poverty Level, and you can apply at any point during pregnancy.5Maryland Department of Health. State Stats Topic Areas Monthly income limits effective February 2026:4Maryland Department of Health. Income and Asset Limits by Coverage Group and Program
- 2 people: $4,763
- 3 people: $6,011
- 4 people: $7,260
- 5 people: $8,511
Coverage runs through 12 months after your pregnancy ends. Maryland adopted the extended postpartum option available under the American Rescue Plan Act, replacing the old 60-day cutoff. No asset test applies.
Rules for Seniors, Disabled Applicants, and Long-Term Care
If you’re 65 or older, blind, or disabled, the rules change. You face both an income limit and an asset limit, effective February 2026:4Maryland Department of Health. Income and Asset Limits by Coverage Group and Program
- Individual: $350/month income, $2,500 in countable assets
- Couple: $392/month income, $3,000 in countable assets
The income figures look impossibly low because they are. Many people in this group qualify through a spend-down. If your income exceeds the limit, you can still get coverage by incurring medical expenses that bring your countable income down to the threshold. It works like a medical deductible: once your out-of-pocket medical costs eat the difference between your actual income and the limit, Medicaid covers the rest of the period.
Not every asset counts. Common exclusions include your primary home (subject to an equity cap of $752,000 for long-term care purposes), certain personal belongings, and burial arrangements.6Maryland Department of Health. Appendix Schedules 2026 Maryland doesn’t publish an exhaustive public list of every exclusion.
For nursing home care or home-and-community-based waiver programs, financial eligibility isn’t the whole story. You also have to demonstrate a functional need for care. Assessors look at whether you need help with activities like bathing, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed, and using the toilet.
Spousal Protections When One Spouse Needs Long-Term Care
Federal law shields the at-home spouse from impoverishment when the other spouse enters a nursing facility. Maryland follows those rules, with 2026 figures:6Maryland Department of Health. Appendix Schedules 2026
- Community Spouse Resource Allowance: the at-home spouse can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in countable assets, depending on the couple’s total resources when institutionalization begins.
- Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: the at-home spouse can receive up to $4,066 per month from the couple’s combined income.
Only assets and income above those protected amounts count toward the institutionalized spouse’s eligibility.
The Five-Year Look-Back for Long-Term Care
If you’re applying for long-term care Medicaid, Maryland reviews your financial transactions for the 60 months before your application date. The state is looking for assets you gave away or sold below fair market value to get under the asset limit.
Disqualifying transfers trigger a penalty period during which you’re ineligible for long-term care coverage. The length is calculated by dividing the total value of the transfers by the average monthly cost of nursing home care in the state. Larger transfers mean longer penalties.
The penalty clock doesn’t start when you made the transfer. It starts on the later of the transfer date or the date you apply and would otherwise be eligible. You can’t gift assets early, wait quietly, and apply once the five years have passed thinking the slate is clean — the penalty begins at application.
Some transfers are exempt. Transferring your home to a spouse, a disabled child, or a child who lived with you and provided care that delayed your institutionalization generally doesn’t trigger a penalty. The specifics matter, and misreading them can leave you without coverage for months.
How to Apply
Four ways in:7Maryland Health Connection. How to Enroll in Medicaid
- Online at marylandhealthconnection.gov or through the Maryland Health Connection mobile app.
- By phone at 1-855-642-8572.
- By mail, using a paper application requested at the same number and sent to your local Department of Social Services.
- In person at a local Department of Social Services office or health department.8Maryland Department of Health. How to Apply for Medicaid
Have these ready before you start: proof of identity, Maryland residency (a utility bill or lease works), citizenship or immigration status, and income documentation like recent pay stubs or tax returns. If you’re applying for a program with an asset test, pull together bank statements and property information. You’ll also need Social Security Numbers for everyone on the application.
Processing Times and Appeals
Federal rules give Maryland 45 days to process most applications and up to 90 days for disability-based applications, because of the extra medical evaluations.9Medicaid.gov. Medicaid and CHIP Determinations at Application You may be asked for additional documents along the way. The determination arrives by mail.
If you’re denied or your benefits are reduced, you can appeal. For most Medicaid decisions, you have 90 days from the date on your notice to request a fair hearing. For a HealthChoice managed care organization decision, the deadline is 60 days.10Maryland Department of Health. Medicaid Appeal
One deadline is much shorter and catches people off guard. If you already have Medicaid and want to keep receiving benefits while your appeal is pending, you have to request the hearing within 10 calendar days of the notice date, the postmark date, or the effective date of the action, whichever comes later. If you disagree with a change to your coverage, file within those 10 days to preserve the status quo. You can sort out the merits while your benefits continue.