Medicaid Work Requirements in Maryland
Maryland's work requirements and twice-a-year renewals begin January 1, 2027. MDH says up to 320,000 members will be subject and as many as 152,000 may lose coverage.
Check your situation in Maryland
When it starts in Maryland
- September 2026: notices went to members who need to meet the rules, and Governor Moore mailed and emailed a letter to affected Marylanders.
- October 14, 2026: MDH launched the "Medicaid Check-In" outreach campaign with fact sheets in 13 languages.
- January 1, 2027: the requirement and 6-month renewals begin.
Who has to meet it
The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid adult expansion group, unless they are pregnant, have Medicare, or are exempt. You meet it in a month with 80 hours of work, community service, a work program, or school (in any mix), by going to school at least half-time, or with at least $580 in monthly income.
You are exempt if, for example, you care for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability, are pregnant or postpartum, are American Indian or Alaska Native, are medically frail, are a veteran with a total (100%) VA disability rating or TDIU, were in foster care at 18 and are under 26, are in drug or alcohol treatment, meet SNAP or TANF work rules, or left jail or prison in the last 3 months. See the full exemption list.
Court ruling, October 29, 2026. In Massachusetts v. Oz, a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra "significantly impairs" test for the medically frail exemption. If you are in any of the five medically frail groups in the law, you qualify. Maryland was one of the parties that sued, so the court also gave Maryland six months of relief from federal enforcement of its medically frail decisions while it updates its systems. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.
How Maryland checks and how to report
Months checked: When you renew in 2027, you must show you met the rule for at least one month.
Maryland has not yet published a reporting portal. Maryland Health Connection says it will first check data it already has and will send a letter or email if it needs more proof.
Official tools and contacts
- Check if it applies: Medicaid Check-In (information campaign)
- Maryland Department of Health: 1-877-463-3464
- Maryland Department of Health (local): 410-767-6500
- MDH: new requirements for Medicaid
- Governor's letter to Medicaid customers (PDF)
- Agency: Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
Federal protections that apply in Maryland
- The state must check its own records before asking you for proof.
- If it can't confirm you meet the rule, you get a notice and at least 30 days to respond, and your coverage continues meanwhile.
- You get written notice and the right to a fair hearing before coverage ends, and you can reapply at any time.
- If you lose Medicaid for not meeting the rule, you cannot get marketplace premium tax credits for those months. Learn more.
Frequently asked questions
When do Medicaid work requirements start in Maryland?
January 1, 2027. Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.
How many months does Maryland check?
When you renew in 2027, you must show you met the rule for at least one month.
How do I report my hours or an exemption in Maryland?
Maryland has not yet published a reporting portal. Maryland Health Connection says it will first check data it already has and will send a letter or email if it needs more proof.
Who do I call about Maryland Medicaid work requirements?
Maryland Department of Health: 1-877-463-3464
Maryland Department of Health (local): 410-767-6500
Can I lose Maryland Medicaid right away if I don't meet the requirement?
No. Federal law requires a notice, at least 30 days to show you comply or are exempt, continued coverage during that time, and fair hearing rights before coverage ends.
Sources
- MDH: new requirements for Medicaid
- MDH press release (Oct. 14, 2026)
- Maryland Health Connection: Medicaid Check-In
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71119: community engagement requirement (GovInfo)
- CMS interim final rule, Medicaid community engagement requirement, 91 FR 33348 (June 3, 2026)
- Massachusetts v. Oz, No. 1:26-cv-12962-RGS (D. Mass.), memorandum and order (Oct. 29, 2026)