How to get Medicaid or low-cost care in Maryland

Medicaid in Maryland

Medicaid is a program that helps cover health care costs for people with low incomes. The state's Department of Health runs it, and many people in the state also call it Medical Assistance. The two names mean the same coverage, so either one works.

The state's expansion of Medicaid came on January 1, 2014. You may qualify if your monthly income is up to about the amount in the state's table, which took effect on February 1, 2026. For one adult, that amount is $1,835. For two people it is $2,490, for three it is $3,142 and for four it is $3,795.

Children and pregnant people can earn more and still qualify. Children are covered through Medicaid and the Maryland Children's Health Program. Each group is explained in our guide on who qualifies for Medicaid.

Ways to apply in Maryland

No matter where you start, someone will help you, and the state says there is no wrong way to apply. Applications are open all year, and coverage can start right away if you are eligible. The main ways to apply are listed here.

• Go online to Maryland Health Connection, the state's health coverage website.
• Use the free Maryland Health Connection phone app.
• Call 1-855-642-8572 to apply by phone or to ask for a paper form.
• Visit a local health department or a local department of social services.

The phone line is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. If the wait is long, the call back feature lets a worker try to call you back three times. Mondays are the busiest day for calls, the state says.

After you apply, the state may mail a notice asking for papers. Then you pick a doctor and a managed care plan, which is a private company that runs your Medicaid benefits. Ask your doctor which plans they accept before you choose. Our guide on how to apply for Medicaid lists what to gather first.

Pregnant women are encouraged to apply at a local health department. A Medicaid helpline for pregnant women is open at 1-800-456-8900. More help is in our guide on prenatal care without insurance.

Free hospital care under Maryland law

Maryland has a state law on free hospital care. Its acute care and chronic care hospitals must write a financial assistance policy. That policy must give free medically necessary care to patients with a family income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Patients above that line must get reduced-cost care if they have low income. The policy must also describe a payment plan. When a hospital says no, the law lets you ask it to reconsider. The Health Education and Advocacy Unit can help you file that request.

Medically necessary care means care that fits accepted medical practice and is not just for convenience. Ask the hospital's billing office for its financial assistance form. Our guide on hospital financial assistance shows what to say.

The 2027 Medicaid changes in plain words

A new federal law adds rules for some adults, and Maryland calls its outreach the Medicaid Check-In. Up to 320,000 members could be affected, the state says. Maryland Health Connection mailed notices in September 2026 to those who need to follow the new rules.

Starting January 1, 2027, adults ages 19 to 64 in the affected group must show that they work or do other approved activities. Earning at least $580 a month meets the rule. Going to school at least half-time counts too. So does any mix of paid work, school, job training and volunteering that adds up to 80 hours a month. When you renew in 2027, you must show it for at least one month.

Many people are exempt from this rule, so check the list below. The list includes people under 19, people 65 or older and people with Medicare. You are also exempt if you are pregnant or had a baby in the past 12 months. Caring for a child 13 or younger is an exemption, using the federal wording, and so is caring for a person with a disability. People with a health condition that limits their work are exempt too, and so are people who follow the SNAP work rules.

Many adults will also renew every six months instead of every year. To see if the rules apply to you, log in to your account or use the state's online tool. Keep your contact information up to date and read every letter. The federal side is explained in our guide on Medicaid work rules.

If your income is above the Medicaid limit

The state also runs its own marketplace for private plans. It uses the same name, Maryland Health Connection, and the state's Health Benefit Exchange runs it. Open enrollment for 2027 plans starts November 1, according to the site. An estimate of your costs is available before you sign up.

Local helpers in every county will meet with you in person at no charge. Insurance brokers can also help you pick a plan at no cost to you.

Community health centers and doctor lookups

Community health centers are clinics with federal funding, and they charge by income. Use the free Find a Health Center tool from the Health Resources and Services Administration, which needs only a zip code. A group called the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers supports these clinics in Maryland. Ask each clinic about its sliding fee scale, which is a price list based on your income.

The Maryland Board of Physicians puts a License Lookup on its home page. Use it to check a doctor's license before you book a visit.

Flat-fee doctors and emergencies in Maryland

Some doctors in Maryland offer direct primary care. Patients pay a monthly fee, and the office does not bill insurance for their visits. Our directory lists cash-pay doctors, and it is wise to ask what the fee includes.

If you have chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Under federal law, a hospital with an emergency room has to examine you even if you have no coverage.