UPDATE: For the year 2023, Medicaid plans will follow the same requirements and application methods.

Where do you sign up for Medicaid in Maryland? Many medically needy citizens of Maryland wondering how to apply for Medicaid should know that there are several Health Program options available for free or at low cost. The program is offered to Maryland children, single adults, pregnant women and families that qualify based on household income levels.

Maryland Medicaid has been expanded to include more state residents. With the expanded coverage, more people are able to apply for Medicaid and qualify for the program even if they were not qualified in the past. Moreover, applicants that have children or are pregnant can still qualify even if their income is higher than the imposed limit.

Some of the benefits of Maryland Medicaid coverage include hospital care, behavioral health care, visits to specialty care, prescriptions and primary care. Members have to select a Managed Care Organization (MCO), which determines the healthcare providers they can sign up with.

To learn more about the application process for Medicaid, download our comprehensive guide. Review the details provided in the sections below:

• How to Apply for Medicaid Online, by Phone & in Person in Maryland
• What Are the Acceptable Verification Documents in Maryland?
• How Long Does Medicaid Application Processing Take in Maryland?

How to Apply for Medicaid Online, by Phone & in Person in Maryland

Before applying for MD Medicaid, there is some information you will need. Check the following before filling the application:

• Your Social Security number as well as those of people you plan to include in your Medicaid.
• Your date of birth as well as general information about yourself and members of your family that will be included in Medicaid
• If you currently have health insurance, provide your policy numbers
• Income and employer information for all members of your family will be included in your Medicaid application.
• Information about any health insurance coverage provided by your employer

Your income and other information will be used to determine the amount of coverage you qualify for and if you can get any help paying for it. The information you provide when you apply for Medicaid online is kept private and secure, as provided by in the law.

You can apply for Medicaid Maryland online, by visiting the local Department of Social Services, by phone or in person.

• To apply online, visit the Maryland Medicaid website
• To apply for the program in person, visit the local Department of Social Services offices.
• For phone application, call the number listed online

What Are the Acceptable Verification Documents in Maryland?

When applying for Medicaid coverage in MD, you may be required to provide additional documents for your application to be processed. Various documents may be required for verification related to immigration status, citizenship, Social Security number, identity, and income.

Identity Verification Documents

• Clinic, doctor, hospital or school record for children under age 19
• Driver’s license with a photo
• Finding identity from an Express Lane agency
• Finding identity from a Federal or State government agency
• An identification card or official document issued by federal, state or local government with a photo or other identifying info
• Military Dependent’s Identification Card
• School Identification Card with a photo
• Two documents with information proving an applicant’s identity (e.g. high school diplomas, employer identification cards, property titles, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees)
• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
• U.S. Military Card or Draft Record

Social Security Number Verification

• Benefit or income statement from Social Security containing your SSN
• Letter from Social Security stating that you are only eligible for a non-work SSN or are not eligible for an SSN
• A letter stating that your refusal to obtain an SSN for established religious objections
• Pending application for an SSN
• Social Security card
• Tax form(s)

Immigration Status Verification Documents

• Arrival/Departure Record (I-94, I-94A)
• Certification from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
• Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (DS-2019)
• Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status (I-20)
• Document proving you are an American Indian born in Canada or are a member of an Indian tribe that is recognized by the federal government
• Document indicating you are a resident of American Samoa
• Document indicating withholding of removal (or withholding of deportation)
• Employment Authorization Card (EAD, I-766)
• Evidence of eligibility as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant
• Foreign Passport
• Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (with temporary I-551 language)
• If under 18 years old, a letter of eligibility from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
• Notice of Action (I-797)
• Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”, I-551)

Citizenship Verification Documents

• Certificate of U.S. Citizenship
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Native American tribal documents (e.g. Tribal Census document, Tribal Enrollment Card)
• U.S. Passport
• One of the documents below:
  1. Certification of Birth Abroad
  2. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a U.S. Citizen
  3. Documentation that a child meets the requirements of Section 101 of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (8 U.S.C. 1431)
  4. Northern Marianas Card
  5. Religious record showing U.S. place of birth recorded in the U.S.
  6. U.S. Citizen ID Card
  7. U.S. Medical, Military or Religious Record showing birthplace in the U.S.
  8. U.S. Public Birth Certificate

Income Verification Documents

• Department of Labor statement
• Employer letter
• Income Source Statement
• Most recent pay stubs
• Signed Affidavit of Current Income
• Social Security Administration benefits information (e.g. Earning Record, Payment History, Benefits Letter or Income Letter; and Budget Letter)
• Statement of Projected Earnings

Other verification documents may be accepted for applicants that do not have the specific documents listed above.

How Long Does Medicaid Application Processing Take in Maryland?

Applicants should apply for Maryland Medicaid online. In so doing, you can instantly find out whether or not you are eligible for Medicaid. However, it may take some days before your information is transferred to the system. Keep this in mind when seeking health services after applying for Maryland Medicaid.

If some of the information provided during the application cannot be verified by the system, applicants may be given temporary Medicaid Eligibility for 90 days. During this period, they will not be able to select Managed Care Organizations. Apart from this, they will be required to provide additional documents to verify the information you provided.

For some types of Medicaid insurance, for example, Medicaid for the Aged, Blind and Disabled, and Emergency Medicaid, paper applications are required. Download our in-depth guide to learn more about how to apply for Medicaid.