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Maryland Medicaid Eligibility

Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance, is a health insurance program, and its administration and funding are shared between the federal and the state governments. Each state has different eligibility rules for receiving benefits under the Medicaid program. Maryland has a list of rules for Medicaid eligibility in its Medical Programs website. These rules vary according to different categories and groups of people.

  1. Families and Children

    • In Maryland, families and children who are already receiving benefits from the state Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program are also eligible to have Medicaid. If you qualify for TCA benefits but you did not apply, you may also receive Medicaid. Families and children who are not eligible for TCA benefits but whose income and assets are still under the limits for Medicaid are also eligible. Income level is measured according to the size of the family. For example, as of 2011, a family of three cannot have an income higher than $1,769 per month. There is an addition of almost $400 (per month) on the income per additional person in the family.

    Refugees

    • According to the Maryland document "Medical Care Programs Eligibility," refugees and asylees who receive benefits from the Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program, who have lost RCA benefits because they had an increase in earnings or hours of work or who are not eligible for RCA benefits but who have an income lower than the 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for Medicaid benefits. Aliens are eligible for Medicaid as long as they are considered qualified aliens. A qualified alien is not a U.S. citizen but is a permanent resident or who is a foreign national who has been granted parole for at least one year or conditional entry under immigration law before 1980 or an honorably discharged veteran. A non-qualified alien who entered the country before 1996 may also qualify for Medicaid.

    Aged, Blind and Disabled

    • Individuals who already receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits qualify to receive Medicaid. Individuals who have lost these benefits due to federal changes in the definition of disability or whose Social Security Income cost of living has increased are also eligible. Individuals whose household income do not exceed the limits set by the state may also be eligible for Medicaid. These income limits vary according to the size of the family. As of 2011, for example, a family of three with a monthly income lower than $434 qualifies for Medicaid. (The income limits vary around $40 per additional person in the family.) Individuals who receive Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) are automatically eligible for Medicaid.

    Other Recipients

    • Pregnant women whose family income is lower than the limits mentioned before are also eligible to receive Medicaid. Other individuals who can qualify are those who need care in a long-term care facility, who have financial needs and are SSI recipients in a long-term care facility and who receive TCA benefits. Underaged, aged, blind and disabled individuals who are considered medically needy and whose income is not high enough to pay for the costs of a long-term care facility can also qualify.

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