Maryland Income Guidelines for Medical Assistance

Find out if you qualify for medical assistance in Maryland by looking at the income guidelines for the program.

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What is medical assistance?

Medical Assistance is a program that provides health care coverage for low-income adults and children. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) administers the state’s Medical Assistance program.

To be eligible for Medical assistance an individual or family must meet certain income and asset guidelines. In general, applicants must have an income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level to qualify for Medical Assistance

Income guidelines are subject to change each year. To see the most up-to-date income guidelines, please visit: https://dhr.maryland.gov/medical-assistance/income-guidelines

What are the income guidelines for Medical Assistance in Maryland?

In order to qualify for medical assistance in Maryland, your income must fall at or below a certain level. These levels are different if you are applying as an individual, as a family, or if you are pregnant.

As of July 1, 2019, if you are applying as an individual and your income is at or below $16,750 per year, you may qualify for medical assistance. If you are part of a family of two, your combined annual income must be at or below $22,700 in order to qualify. If your family consists of three people, your combined annual income must be at or below $28,650. For a family of four, the maximum combined annual income allowed is $34,600.

If you are pregnant and applying for medical assistance in Maryland, your annual income must be at or below $21,330 in order to qualify.

If your income is above these levels, you may still be eligible for medical assistance if you have high medical expenses.

How do I know if I am eligible for medical assistance?

In order to determine whether you are eligible for medical assistance, you will need to take into account a variety of factors, including your income, your family size, and whether you are pregnant or disabled. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has set up a website where you can use their screening tool to see if you might be eligible for medical assistance.

In order to be eligible for medical assistance, your income must fall at or below a certain level. The level varies depending on your family size, but as of 2020, a single person with an income of $1,4150 or less per month would be eligible for medical assistance. If you have a family of four, your household income must be below $2,970 per month in order to qualify.

Medical assistance is available to pregnant women and children under the age of 19 regardless of their income levels. If you are disabled or over the age of 65, you may also be eligible for medical assistance, even if your income is above the guidelines listed above.

If you think that you might be eligible for medical assistance, you can visit the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website to learn more or to apply for benefits.

What are the benefits of medical assistance?

Medical assistance provides benefits to low-income individuals and families who are unable to afford the costs of medical care. Benefits can include coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and other necessary medical services. In order to be eligible for medical assistance, applicants must meet certain income criteria.

How do I apply for medical assistance?

In order to apply for medical assistance, you will need to fill out an application and submit it to your local Department of Social Services office. You can find the application online at www.marylandsimple.com. If you are not sure which office to contact, you can call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-332-6347.

What documents do I need to apply for medical assistance?

To apply for medical assistance, you will need to provide the following documents:
-A valid photo ID
-Proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
-Social Security Number
-Proof of Maryland residency
-Proof of any income you receive
-Proof of any assets you own

How long does it take to process my application for medical assistance?

It usually takes about 45 days to process an application for medical assistance. However, if you have an emergency, you may be able to get medical assistance within 24 hours.

What if I am denied medical assistance?

If you are denied medical assistance, you have the right to request a fair hearing. A fair hearing is a hearing before an impartial person who will decide if you were properly denied medical assistance. You have the right to be represented by an attorney at the fair hearing. You may also request that the hearing be held in the county where you live.

What are my appeal rights if I am denied medical assistance?

If you are denied medical assistance, you have the right to file an appeal. To file an appeal, you must request a reconsideration within 60 days of the date on the denial notice. You can do this by writing a letter to the Office of Health Care Quality at the address below. You must include your name, address and telephone number, as well as your Medicaid ID number.

In your letter, you should explain why you think the decision to deny you medical assistance is wrong. If you have any new information that was not considered when your application was originally reviewed, please include that in your letter. You may also request a fair hearing. A fair hearing is a chance for you to explain in person why you think you should be granted medical assistance.

To request a fair hearing, you must call 1-800-496-0783 (toll free) or TTY 1-800- 384-1783 within 60 days of the date on your denial notice.

Where can I get more information about medical assistance?

There are a number of resources available to help you learn more about medical assistance programs in Maryland. You can visit the Maryland Department of Health website for more information about income guidelines and other program requirements. You can also speak to a medical assistance representative by calling the Department of Health customer service line at 1-800-456-8900.