The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Maryland Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Maryland’s Medicaid program is also called Medical Assistance.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Maryland Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Maryland and how it works.
Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.
It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
How Many People are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:
- 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
- 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
- 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP
Maryland Medicaid
The Maryland Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.
As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 1.4 million people.
This includes 653,000 children as shown by the image below.
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) runs the Maryland Medicaid program.
Who Can Get Medicaid in Maryland?
You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:
- You think you are pregnant
- The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
- You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
- An adult age 65 or older.
- You are legally blind.
- Living with a disability or disabled.
- You are in need of nursing home care.
Maryland Medicaid Income Limit
The Maryland Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Maryland Medicaid Income limits listed below.
Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.
| 2021 Federal Poverty Levels for the 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | |||
| Household Size | Poverty Guideline for 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $12,880 | $16,090 | $14,820 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $21,770 | $20,040 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $27,450 | $25,260 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $33,130 | $30,480 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $38,810 | $35,700 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $44,490 | $40,920 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $50,170 | $46,140 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $55,850 | $51,360 |
| Over 8 people | add $4,540 for each additional person | $5,680 | $5,220 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:
- Children up to age 1 with family income up to 317 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 317 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 317 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 317 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 259 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 123 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL
- Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL
Maryland Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Maryland Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.
For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.
Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Maryland who qualify for Medicaid.
Maryland Medicaid Income Limit for Children
Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.
| Maryland Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 317% | 317% | 317% | 317% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $40,830 | $40,830 | $40,830 | $40,830 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $55,221 | $55,221 | $55,221 | $55,221 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $69,613 | $69,613 | $69,613 | $69,613 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $84,005 | $84,005 | $84,005 | $84,005 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $98,397 | $98,397 | $98,397 | $98,397 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $112,789 | $112,789 | $112,789 | $112,789 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $127,180 | $127,180 | $127,180 | $127,180 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $141,572 | $141,572 | $141,572 | $141,572 | |
Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.
Maryland has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Maryland.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Maryland, see our Maryland Expansion update below.
Maryland Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Maryland Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 259% | 123% | 74% | 133% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $33,359 | $15,842 | $9,531 | $17,130 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $45,118 | $21,427 | $12,891 | $23,169 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $56,876 | $27,011 | $16,250 | $29,207 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $68,635 | $32,595 | $19,610 | $35,245 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $80,394 | $38,179 | $22,970 | $41,283 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $92,152 | $43,763 | $26,329 | $47,321 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $103,911 | $49,348 | $29,689 | $53,360 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $115,669 | $54,932 | $33,048 | $59,398 | |
How to Read the Maryland Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above
You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.
Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.
For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 259% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $45,118 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for Maryland Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Maryland.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Maryland Health Connection Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your Maryland Health Connection Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
This short video, by the Maryland Health Connection, walks you through how to apply for Medicaid online and what to expect after you enroll.
We encourage you to watch it if you plan to apply for Medicaid in Maryland online.
Option 2 – Apply at the Department of Social Services Office Near You
You can apply in person at the Maryland Department of Social Services office near you. Click here to locate an office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county Social Services office near you or submit it in person.
Click here to locate an office.
Additionally, you can 1-800-456-8900 and have an application mailed to you.
Furthermore, if you need help applying, call 1-855-642-8572 (1-855-642-8573 for individuals who have hearing difficulty).
Maryland Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Maryland Medicaid Agency:
Call Maryland Health Connection at 1-855-642-8572.
Maryland Medicaid Expansion Update
Maryland opted to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
The coverage for the expansion population started January 1, 2014.
Maryland’s Medicaid eligibility limits are generous in comparison to those of many other states.
The State of Maryland estimated that 190,000 Marylanders would gain Medicaid coverage through the Maryland Medicaid expansion by 2020.
The state has seen a 39 percent reduction in the uninsured rate from 2013 to 2017.
Maryland Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Maryland Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Maryland, you can ask us in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
MassHealth Income Limits Chart