Maryland Medicaid 2026: How to Apply, Benefits, Plans, Phone Numbers and Home Care
Key Takeaways
- Maryland Medicaid is also called Medical Assistance. Most adults, children, and pregnant Marylanders apply through Maryland Health Connection, while people who are 65 or older, blind, or living with a disability apply through MarylandBenefits.gov or their local Department of Social Services.
- For 2026, most adults qualify with income up to $1,835 a month for one person. A separate income-and-asset standard applies to Medicaid pathways for older adults, people who are blind, people with disabilities, and some long-term-care applicants.
- Our dedicated Maryland Medicaid eligibility and income limits guide covers qualification in full detail. This guide focuses on applying, using the right portal, understanding your coverage, and home care.
- HealthChoice is Maryland's managed care program. Maryland currently has nine HealthChoice health plans, though which ones are available can depend on your county and enrollment status.
- Home care has three main doors: Community First Choice, Community Personal Assistance Services, and the Community Options Waiver, each with its own eligibility path and referral process, separate from applying for Medicaid itself.
- A federal immigration-eligibility change took effect October 1, 2026. A separate federal requirement begins in January 2027 for some Maryland adults. Affected members may need to meet a new community-engagement requirement and renew coverage every 6 months; the requirement can be met through qualifying earnings, half-time school, or approved monthly activities.
- Need help at home? Cottage Home Care's Maryland team can talk through your relative's daily-care needs, explain the Maryland home-care programs we support, help you understand what information to prepare for intake, and make the next step clear. Call (667) 400-0648 to discuss your family's situation.
If you are looking into Maryland Medicaid for yourself or for a relative, you are probably trying to answer a few practical questions: what it covers, how to apply, which phone number to call, and whether it can help pay for care at home. This guide walks through all of it in plain language, using Maryland's official sources, so you can find what you need and know what to do next.
Maryland Medicaid, officially called Medical Assistance, is run by the Maryland Department of Health. It provides health coverage to more than a million Marylanders, including children, pregnant people, adults with low income, and older adults or people with disabilities who need ongoing care. Whatever brings you here today, this guide is built to help you find the right next step for your family.
In This Guide
Maryland Medicaid at a Glance
What Is Maryland Medicaid?
Maryland Medicaid is public health coverage for residents with limited income, run jointly by the state and federal government through the Maryland Department of Health. It pays for doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, dental care, behavioral health care, and, for some members, personal care at home. Coverage is free or very low cost, with no premiums for most benefits.
Is Medicaid the Same as Medical Assistance?
Yes. State forms and local Department of Social Services offices often use Medical Assistance or simply MA, while federal sources and most websites use Medicaid. They refer to the same coverage.
Maryland Medicaid vs. HealthChoice vs. Maryland Health Connection
These three names get mixed up often, and it helps to keep them separate. Medicaid is the coverage itself. HealthChoice is Maryland's managed care program, the system that connects most Medicaid members with a health plan. Maryland Health Connection is the state's online marketplace, the place where most people apply for Medicaid and pick a health plan in the first place.
If your main reason for looking into Maryland Medicaid is help with bathing, dressing, mobility, meal preparation, or other daily activities at home, you do not need to have every Medicaid detail sorted out first. Cottage Home Care's Maryland team can talk through the home-care programs we support and what your family may want to prepare next.
Need Something Now? Use the Right Portal or Phone Number
If you already know what you need, this table can save you a few steps.
| Need |
Official System or Contact |
When to Use It |
| Apply for Medicaid as an adult, child, parent, or pregnant person |
Maryland Health Connection, 1-855-642-8572 |
First-time Medicaid applications for most people under 65 |
| Apply for Medicaid based on age 65+, blindness, or disability |
MarylandBenefits.gov or your local Department of Social Services |
Long-term care or ABD-based Medicaid applications |
| Ask about a HealthChoice plan or benefits |
HealthChoice Helpline, 800-284-4510 |
Questions about your MCO, benefits, or network |
| Request a Community First Choice or CPAS assessment |
Maryland Access Point, 844-627-5465, or the CFC/CPAS Program Office, 410-767-1739 |
Once you already have qualifying, full Medicaid; a separate step from the Medicaid application |
| Join the Community Options Waiver Registry |
Maryland Access Point, 844-627-5465 |
If you need nursing-facility-level care at home; involves a registry and an invitation to apply |
| Find a doctor or dentist |
Provider Finder on health.maryland.gov, or member.mdhealthysmiles.com for dental |
Looking for a provider who accepts your plan |
| Renew coverage or report a change |
Maryland Health Connection or MarylandBenefits.gov |
Yearly renewal, or a change in income, address, or household |
Who Qualifies for Maryland Medicaid in 2026?
Basic Eligibility Factors
To qualify, you generally must be a Maryland resident, meet the financial rules for your coverage group, and meet Maryland's current citizenship or immigration-status requirements, which changed for some non-citizens on October 1, 2026 (covered later in this guide). Special eligibility rules may apply to children and pregnant applicants. See Maryland's Immigration Status Requirements page for the current, detailed categories. If you already receive Supplemental Security Income, you are already eligible and do not need to apply separately.
2026 Income Snapshot
Income limits for most adults, children, and pregnant Marylanders changed on February 1, 2026. As one example, a single adult qualifies with income up to $1,835 a month, and a family of four qualifies up to $3,795 a month, both based on 138 percent of the federal poverty level with no asset test, per Maryland's income and asset limits page. Children, pregnancy coverage, older adults, disability-based Medicaid, and long-term care each use different standards. Full household-size tables and spend-down rules are covered in depth in our Maryland Medicaid eligibility and 2026 income limits guide, the best resource if income qualification is your main question.
Adults 65+, Blind, or Disabled
A separate income-and-asset standard applies to certain Medicaid pathways for older adults, people who are blind, people with disabilities, and some long-term-care applicants: $350 a month for one person and $392 for a couple, with an asset limit of $2,500 and $3,000. If your income is above this, a Medicaid waiver, a spend-down, or the Employed Individuals with Disabilities program may still be an option, covered in our eligibility guide.
Children and Pregnancy Coverage
Children qualify at a much higher income level through the Maryland Children's Health Program, and pregnant applicants are generally counted as a household of at least two for income purposes, since Medicaid includes the baby on the way. If your own income is too high for Medicaid, your child may still qualify on their own.
How to Apply for Medicaid in Maryland
Which Application Route Should You Use?
Maryland splits Medicaid applications into two main doors. If you are an adult under 65, a child, a pregnant person, a parent, a caretaker, or a former foster care youth, you apply through Maryland Health Connection. If you are 65 or older, blind, or living with a disability, or applying for long-term care, you apply through MarylandBenefits.gov or your local Department of Social Services instead. Maryland Health Connection does not process applications for people 65 and older.
Apply Through Maryland Health Connection
You can apply online at marylandhealthconnection.gov, through the Maryland Health Connection mobile app, by phone at 1-855-642-8572, or in person at a local health department. There is no wrong door. According to Maryland Health Connection, coverage can start right away once you are found eligible, and your eligibility notice will confirm your exact coverage start date.
Applications for Older Adults or People With Disabilities
If you are 65 or older, blind, or living with a disability, you can apply at MarylandBenefits.gov (the state's current benefits portal, formerly known as mymdthink; the old web address now redirects here), by mailing a completed Long-Term Care or Waiver Medical Assistance application to your local Department of Social Services, or in person at that office. Applying for Medicaid this way is a separate step from requesting a home-care program. If you already have qualifying, full Medicaid and want to request Community First Choice or CPAS services, contact Maryland Access Point or the CFC/CPAS Program Office to begin that assessment and referral process, covered later in this guide. The Community Options Waiver follows its own registry and invitation process, also explained later.
What Documents Should You Prepare?
For a Maryland Health Connection application, per the state's own application checklist, it helps to have ready: birthdates, Social Security numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants), citizenship or immigration status, tax returns for previous years, employer and income information such as pay stubs or W-2 forms, and policy numbers for any current health insurance. People applying through the aged, blind, disabled, waiver, or long-term-care pathways may also need bank statements and other financial or asset records, since those pathways include an asset test.
Where to Get Free Application Help
You do not have to fill out the application alone. Local health departments, local Departments of Social Services, and Maryland Health Connection navigators can walk you through the Medicaid application at no cost. If what you need is a home-care program referral rather than the Medicaid application itself, Maryland Access Point at 844-627-5465 can point you toward the right local Aging and Disability office.
What Happens After You Apply?
How to Check Application Status
If you applied through Maryland Health Connection, log in online or call 1-855-642-8572. If you applied through MarylandBenefits.gov, check your account there or call the Department of Human Services at 1-800-332-6347. Your local Department of Social Services will also contact you to confirm your application was received.
What Happens After Approval?
Once approved, you will get a Medicaid card in the mail, sometimes called a red and white card, and a notice explaining your coverage. Most members then pick a HealthChoice plan, or MCO, which organizes doctor visits, hospital care, and most other benefits; the state assigns one if you do not choose within the enrollment window, though you can usually switch later. The HealthChoice section below walks through how to compare plans.
Finding a Doctor Who Accepts Your Plan
Maryland's Provider Finder tool, on health.maryland.gov, lets you search for a doctor, specialist, hospital, or dentist and filter by the plan you want to check, since not every provider accepts every HealthChoice plan.
What Does Maryland Medicaid Cover?
Doctor and Hospital Care
Maryland Medicaid covers primary care, specialist visits, hospital stays, emergency care, urgent care, and preventive services such as checkups and screenings, mostly through your HealthChoice plan.
Prescription Drugs
Prescription medications are covered through your HealthChoice plan's pharmacy benefit. Each plan uses its own preferred drug list, so check with your plan or pharmacist about a specific medication before filling a new prescription.
Dental Coverage
Yes, Maryland Medicaid covers dental care for every member with full coverage, through the Maryland Healthy Smiles Dental Program. There are no premiums, deductibles, or copays, and no yearly maximum. Covered services include cleanings, X-rays, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and anesthesia, with sealants, orthodontics, and fluoride varnish added for members under 21. Find a dentist at member.mdhealthysmiles.com or by calling 855-934-9812.
Behavioral Health
Mental health and substance use treatment are covered through Maryland's Public Behavioral Health System, managed by Carelon Behavioral Health. Your HealthChoice plan can help connect you with a provider, or you can reach Carelon directly through maryland.carelonbh.com.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
Yes, Maryland Medicaid covers transportation to medically necessary appointments when a member has no other way to get there. According to the Maryland Department of Health, this Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefit is a transportation program of last resort, operated through grants to local health departments, with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation serving that role in Montgomery County. The state NEMT benefit is generally arranged through your county's local health department or local transportation program. Your HealthChoice plan may help coordinate transportation and may also offer limited additional transportation benefits.
Home Health and Long-Term Personal Assistance
Beyond medical care, Maryland Medicaid can also help pay for personal care and support at home for members who qualify, through Community First Choice, Community Personal Assistance Services, or the Community Options Waiver, covered in detail below.
Maryland HealthChoice Plans: How to Choose an MCO
As of 2026, Maryland currently has nine HealthChoice managed care organizations: Aetna Better Health of Maryland, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Community Health Plan of Maryland, Jai Medical Systems, Kaiser Permanente, Maryland Physicians Care, MedStar Family Choice, Priority Partners, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint Maryland. Every plan covers the same core Medicaid benefits, but they differ in their doctor and hospital networks, pharmacy lists, and extra perks like dental add-ons or wellness programs. County availability and enrollment status can vary, so confirm directly with a plan or the HealthChoice Helpline.
There is no single best plan for every family. The right choice usually comes down to:
- Does the plan include the doctors, specialists, or hospital system your family already uses?
- Is the plan available in your county, with a network that reaches the specialists you may need?
- Does the plan offer an extra benefit that matters to you, such as a vision allowance or a wellness incentive?
Maryland publishes an official HealthChoice MCO Comparison Chart that lines up each plan's service area and extra benefits side by side. The HealthChoice Helpline at 800-284-4510 can walk through your options, and you may change plans during open enrollment or for certain qualifying reasons.
Maryland Medicaid Phone Numbers: Who Should You Call?
Maryland Medicaid Provider Portal, EVS, eMedicaid, and MPRIME
These systems are built for healthcare providers and home care agencies, not for members, but families sometimes come across the names. None are interchangeable with each other.
| System |
What It Is Used For |
| EVS (Eligibility Verification System) | Lets a provider confirm a member's Medicaid eligibility before a visit, through emedicaid.health.maryland.gov or by calling 1-866-710-1447 |
| eMedicaid | The provider-facing portal that hosts EVS and related provider functions |
| MPRIME | Maryland Medicaid is transitioning provider enrollment and revalidation from ePREP to MPRIME in October 2026. Providers should check the official MPRIME page for the current transition status. |
| ePREP | The outgoing provider enrollment portal being phased out as MPRIME goes live |
| LTSSMaryland | The case coordination system for long-term services and supports, including Community First Choice and waiver cases |
If you are a Medicaid member rather than a provider, none of these portals are the ones you need. Members use Maryland Health Connection or MarylandBenefits.gov instead.
Does Maryland Medicaid Cover Home Care?
Yes. Maryland Medicaid can help pay for personal care and support at home for members whose coverage, functional needs, and assessment results qualify them, through three main state programs. Each has its own eligibility path and its own way to apply, separate from the underlying Medicaid application.
Community First Choice
Maryland's Community First Choice Program is a state plan benefit for Medicaid members who need an institutional level of care but can stay in the community. There is no age limit and no separate waitlist, since it is built into regular Medicaid for anyone who already has full coverage and meets the medical criteria. Covered services include personal assistance with daily activities, nurse monitoring, personal emergency response systems, home-delivered meals, assistive technology, and help transitioning out of a nursing facility.
Community Personal Assistance Services
Maryland's Community Personal Assistance Services (CPAS) is also a state plan benefit, designed for members who need help with at least one daily activity, without the higher, institutional level of need that Community First Choice looks for. Like Community First Choice, there is no separate waitlist, and services include personal assistance, nurse monitoring, and supports planning.
Community Options Waiver
The Community Options Waiver, also called the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver, is for people age 18 and older who need a nursing facility level of care and want it at home instead. It has its own income and asset test: Maryland's program page sets the income limit at up to 300 percent of the SSI federal benefit rate, which the Social Security Administration set at $994 a month for an individual in 2026, about $2,982 a month, plus an asset limit of $2,000 to $2,500 depending on category. Full detail on these financial rules lives in our eligibility guide. Unlike Community First Choice and CPAS, applicants generally enter the Community Options Waiver Registry through Maryland Access Point and wait for an invitation to apply, rather than being approved immediately. Once enrolled, members also receive Community First Choice services as part of their plan.
Community First Choice vs. CPAS vs. Community Options
| Program |
Basic Requirement |
Waitlist or Registry? |
How to Start |
| Community First Choice | Full Medicaid, plus an institutional level of care | No | Call Maryland Access Point or 410-767-1739 |
| Community Personal Assistance Services | Full Medicaid, plus help needed with at least one daily activity | No | Call Maryland Access Point or 410-767-1739 |
| Community Options Waiver | Nursing facility level of care, age 18+, separate income and asset test | Yes, the Community Options Waiver Registry | Call Maryland Access Point to join the registry |
Not sure which of these fits your family? Our Maryland Community Options page, our Community First Choice page, and our side-by-side look at the Community Options Waiver versus Community First Choice go deeper into each path.
Can a Family Member Provide Medicaid-Funded Home Care in Maryland?
In some cases, yes. Some Maryland Medicaid personal-assistance arrangements may allow a qualified relative or another person chosen by the participant to provide approved services. The exact worker rules depend on the program, the service model, the approved plan, and worker eligibility. Spouse eligibility specifically should be confirmed for the particular arrangement, since it is not automatically the same across every program or case.
This option will not fit every family, and some families prefer a licensed home care agency instead, or a mix of both. Choosing a family caregiver or an agency caregiver is a personal decision, and neither is inherently more responsible than the other. If you are exploring whether a relative could be paid to provide care, our guide to getting paid to care for a family member in Maryland walks through what that process generally involves.
How Cottage Home Care Can Help Your Family
Whatever brings you here, we can help you find the right fit for your family. Cottage Home Care helps Maryland families understand the home-care programs we support, talk through a relative's daily-care needs, prepare for intake and assessment, and keep the next steps organized. When approved services are available through a program Cottage supports, our Maryland team can also help families move through onboarding toward the start of Cottage-supported care.
Every family's needs are different, and we start by understanding what matters to yours and what kind of help your relative needs at home, whether that is bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility, meal preparation, supervision, or another daily activity. From your first questions through intake and the start of Cottage-supported care, our Maryland team can help keep the process organized, explain what information to prepare, and make the next step clear. You remain part of every decision.
Medicaid eligibility and service authorization are determined by the applicable Maryland program, not by Cottage. Cottage Home Care helps families understand the home-care services we provide, prepare for intake, and make the next steps clear.
If your relative needs help with bathing, dressing, grooming, meal preparation, mobility, supervision, or other daily activities, call our Maryland team at (667) 400-0648. Tell us what kind of help your family needs, and we can explain the Cottage-supported home-care options, what information may be useful to prepare, and what the next step may look like. You can also visit our Maryland contact page or browse our full list of Maryland home care services.
Important Maryland Medicaid Changes in 2026 and 2027
A federal law known as H.R. 1, signed on July 4, 2025, is changing some Medicaid eligibility and work rules nationwide, including in Maryland. According to the Maryland Department of Health, most of the 1.5 million Marylanders Medicaid serves will see no change. Maryland Medicaid sends an official notice before any change affects a specific member.
Changes Effective October 1, 2026
As of October 1, 2026, some non-citizens no longer qualify for Medicaid, including asylees, refugees, non-citizens granted parole for at least one year, and certain victims of abuse or trafficking. Others remain eligible, including green card holders who meet the five-year rule, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Compact of Free Association migrants, and pregnant people and children who currently qualify. The Healthy Babies Program is not affected. See Maryland's Is My Medicaid Going to Change? page for the full breakdown.
Changes Beginning January 2027
Beginning in January 2027, some Maryland Medicaid members may need to meet a new community engagement requirement and renew their coverage every 6 months. Maryland Health Connection says an affected member can meet the requirement in one of three main ways:
| Way to Meet the Requirement |
What It Means |
| Earn at least $580 a month | Earning at least $580 in the month can satisfy the requirement. |
| Attend school at least half time | Qualifying education can satisfy the requirement without separately completing 80 activity hours. |
| Complete 80 hours of approved activities | The 80 hours can include work, school, job training, volunteering, or a combination of approved activities. |
Maryland says these requirements may affect up to 320,000 Medicaid members, although other state materials describe the group as roughly 300,000. New applicants who are subject to the requirement generally need to meet it in the month before applying, while existing members need to meet it in at least one recent month. Maryland will notify members when the new rules apply to them.
Who May Be Exempt?
According to Maryland's own guidance, people who may be exempt from these new requirements include children under 19, adults 65 or older, pregnant individuals, people living with disabilities, caregivers of young children, and people managing serious health conditions. Maryland Health Connection will provide additional information directly to members if these requirements apply to them, so the safest step is to watch for that notice rather than guess.
How to Renew Maryland Medicaid and Report Changes
How Renewal Works
For most Medicaid coverage groups today, Maryland renews coverage every 12 months, through a process also called redetermination or recertification. You get a notice by mail or in your online account, with 60 days to respond. Some members are renewed automatically when the state can verify eligibility through other records. Most people renew through Maryland Health Connection, while members 65 and older, blind, or living with a disability renew through MarylandBenefits.gov. Starting with the January 2027 changes described above, the specific group of adults subject to the new activity requirement moves to a 6-month renewal cycle instead.
Updating Address, Income, or Household Information
Maryland asks members to report a change in income or household within 10 days of it happening, including a new address, a change in income, marriage or divorce, a new child, a change in disability status, or a change in citizenship or immigration status. Report a change the same way you applied: online, by phone, or in person.
Preparing for 2027 Changes
A few habits now can help keep your coverage from lapsing when the 2027 changes take effect:
- Keep your phone number, email, and mailing address current with Maryland Health Connection or MarylandBenefits.gov
- Open and respond to every notice from Maryland Medicaid as soon as it arrives
- Report income or household changes within 10 days rather than waiting for renewal
- Renew by the deadline on your notice, even if you believe nothing has changed
If Your Application or Service Is Not Approved
A denial notice does not mean anything was done wrong. If information is missing, the notice explains what Maryland needs next, and you can usually provide it and have your case reviewed again.
- Read the notice carefully to understand the specific reason given
- Gather and send any missing or corrected information as soon as you can
- Review your appeal rights, explained in the notice itself
- Ask whether another Maryland Medicaid pathway, such as a waiver or a spend-down, might fit instead
- Contact Maryland Health Connection, MarylandBenefits.gov, or your local Department of Social Services for help
We cannot give individualized legal advice about an appeal, but we are glad to help you understand the home-care programs Cottage supports while you sort out the Medicaid side.
Maryland Medicaid FAQs
What is the Maryland Medicaid phone number?+
For applications, status, and most Medicaid questions, call Maryland Health Connection at 1-855-642-8572. If you are 65 or older, blind, or living with a disability, call 1-800-332-6347 instead.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Maryland?+
Most people apply online at marylandhealthconnection.gov, by phone, or in person at a local health department. People applying based on age, blindness, or disability apply through MarylandBenefits.gov or their local Department of Social Services.
Where do I log in to Maryland Medicaid?+
Most members log in at marylandhealthconnection.gov. Members who applied through the Department of Human Services use MarylandBenefits.gov, which is where the old mymdthink.maryland.gov address now redirects.
How do I check my Medicaid application status?+
Log in online, or call 1-855-642-8572 or 1-800-332-6347, depending on which agency you applied through.
What is the Maryland Medicaid income limit in 2026?+
Most adults qualify up to $1,835 a month for one person. A separate, lower standard applies to applicants based on age 65+, blindness, or disability. See our full income limits guide for every category.
Is Maryland Health Connection the same as Medicaid?+
No. Maryland Health Connection is the marketplace where you apply for and manage Medicaid, among other coverage. Medicaid is the coverage itself.
What is Maryland HealthChoice?+
HealthChoice is Maryland's managed care program for Medicaid, currently made up of nine health plans that most members choose from.
Does Maryland Medicaid cover dental?+
Yes, through the Maryland Healthy Smiles Dental Program, for every member with full coverage, at no out-of-pocket cost.
Does Maryland Medicaid cover transportation?+
Yes, as a last-resort benefit for medically necessary appointments when a member has no other way to get there. The state NEMT benefit is generally arranged through your county's local health department or local transportation program, while a HealthChoice plan may help coordinate transportation or offer additional transportation benefits.
Does Maryland Medicaid cover home care?+
Yes, for members who qualify, through Community First Choice, Community Personal Assistance Services, or the Community Options Waiver, depending on functional need and assessment.
Can a family member provide Medicaid-funded home care in Maryland?+
In some cases, yes, through a self-directed personal-assistance arrangement. Exact worker rules, including whether a spouse qualifies, depend on the specific program and case.
How do I renew Maryland Medicaid?+
Respond to your renewal notice within 60 days, through Maryland Health Connection or MarylandBenefits.gov, depending on which agency manages your case.
What changed in Maryland Medicaid on October 1, 2026?+
Some non-citizens, including asylees, refugees, and certain parolees, no longer qualify for Medicaid as of that date. Green card holders meeting the five-year rule, pregnant people, and currently-qualifying children remain eligible.
What changes begin in Maryland Medicaid in January 2027?+
Some adults, up to 320,000 by one Maryland estimate, will need to complete 80 hours a month of work, job training, school, or volunteering, or earn at least $580 a month, to keep coverage, and will renew every 6 months instead of every 12.
How can Cottage Home Care help with Maryland home care?+
Cottage Home Care helps Maryland families understand the home-care programs we support, talk through a relative's daily-care needs, prepare for intake and assessment, and keep the next steps organized, from the first conversation through the start of Cottage-supported care.
Official Maryland Medicaid Resources
Sabine DurgaramDPS/RN
