Losing a job in Maryland ends more than a paycheck. Employer health coverage usually stops on the last day of the month you leave, and a 60-day Marketplace Special Enrollment Period starts the day after. Maryland runs its own state-based Marketplace, Maryland Health Connection, so Maryland residents apply at marylandhealthconnection.gov instead of healthcare.gov. Losing employer coverage is the qualifying life event that opens the SEP, which means the coverage end date, not the layoff date, starts your clock. This guide covers the three pathways that matter in 2026: Maryland Medicaid for households under 138% FPL, Maryland Health Connection plans with federal premium tax credits and Maryland state subsidies, and COBRA or Maryland continuation coverage for people who need to keep a specific plan. Federal rules from healthcare.gov and medicaid.gov set the baseline, while Maryland Health Connection and the Maryland Insurance Administration set the local procedures. The sections below give anchored dates, a household-size income table for 2026, the documents Maryland Health Connection asks for, and the mistakes that cost Marylanders coverage.
Maryland expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in 2014, so adults ages 19 to 64 qualify when household income is at or below 138% FPL. In 2026 the Federal Poverty Level is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of 4, which puts the Medicaid line at $22,025 and $45,540. Many laid-off workers drop below those lines once the paychecks stop, because Medicaid counts current monthly income rather than last year's tax return. Households above the line can still receive premium tax credits up to 400% FPL ($63,840 for one person in 2026), because the ACA subsidy cliff returned on January 1, 2026 when the enhanced federal credits expired. Maryland partly offsets that loss through its State Subsidy Program, though rules for new SEP enrollees changed during 2026. Children in Maryland qualify for Medicaid or the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP, Maryland's CHIP) at much higher incomes, up to 322% FPL per KFF's January 2026 data, so a parent's job loss rarely means a child must go uninsured.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
The most costly mistakes Maryland residents make after losing job-based coverage in 2026:
- Going to healthcare.gov instead of Maryland Health Connection. Maryland runs a state-based Marketplace at marylandhealthconnection.gov, and Maryland-specific plans and state subsidies appear only there.
- Counting the layoff date as Day 1. The 60-day SEP starts the day after your coverage ends, which is often the end of the month, so check the actual coverage end date with HR.
- Skipping the Medicaid check. Maryland Medicaid is free and year-round, and a layoff can drop monthly income under 138% FPL even if your 2025 income was high.
- Reporting last year's income for premium tax credits. Maryland Health Connection needs your projected 2026 MAGI, including unemployment benefits and severance, or you risk repaying credits at tax time.
- Assuming the Maryland state subsidy is guaranteed. Eligibility rules for new SEP enrollees were under board review in 2026, so verify before relying on a state-subsidized premium.
- Choosing COBRA by default. COBRA costs 102% of the full premium, and most Marylanders pay less on Maryland Health Connection once credits apply.
Maryland Medicaid Eligibility After Losing Your Job in 2026
Maryland Medicaid covers adults ages 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% FPL, which in 2026 means $22,025 for a single person and $45,540 for a family of 4. Maryland expanded Medicaid in 2014, and the Maryland Department of Health runs the program through HealthChoice managed care organizations. Applications go through Maryland Health Connection at marylandhealthconnection.gov, and Medicaid accepts applications every day of the year, so the 60-day SEP clock does not apply to it. Medicaid counts current monthly income, which means a worker who earned $70,000 in 2025 but now has only unemployment benefits in 2026 may qualify immediately. Maryland is one of 40 expansion states plus DC, so no coverage gap exists for low-income Maryland adults. Children are covered at higher incomes through Medicaid and the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP), which KFF lists at up to 322% FPL in January 2026. Federal rules at medicaid.gov require Maryland to process applications promptly and to check eligibility for every program on one application.
Maryland Health Connection: How the State Marketplace Differs From Healthcare.gov
Maryland Health Connection is the state-based Marketplace run by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, so Maryland residents do not use healthcare.gov to enroll after a job loss. The federal rules still apply: healthcare.gov sets the 60-day loss-of-coverage Special Enrollment Period, and Maryland Health Connection follows it while adding its own online application, document upload, and call center. Carriers sell plans at four metal levels, and premium tax credits lower monthly premiums for households between 100% and 400% FPL in 2026. Maryland also created a State Subsidy Program after the enhanced federal credits expired on January 1, 2026. Per the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, that program replaced all of the lost federal help for enrollees under 200% FPL and about half for those at 200% to 400% FPL during the 2026 open enrollment. In March 2026 the exchange board considered pausing state subsidy eligibility for new SEP enrollees for the rest of plan year 2026 because costs rose above projections. Anyone enrolling through a job-loss SEP should ask Maryland Health Connection which subsidies apply before picking a plan.
Maryland Continuation Coverage and Federal COBRA Rules
Federal COBRA applies to private employers with 20 or more employees and lets you keep your group plan for up to 18 months at 102% of the full premium, with 60 days to elect after the qualifying event. Maryland fills the gap for smaller employers. The Maryland Insurance Administration reports that Maryland continuation coverage applies to fully insured group plans, requires that you were covered for at least 3 months before termination, and requires election within 45 days. Self-funded plans and federal plans fall outside the state law. Either route costs the full group premium plus an administrative fee of up to 2%, so most laid-off Maryland workers with income under 400% FPL pay less on Maryland Health Connection. Keep COBRA in mind when a family member is mid-treatment, since changing networks could interrupt care. Check the plan's election notice for exact dates, because missing the election period forfeits the option permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to get health insurance after losing my job in Maryland?
Maryland gives you a 60-day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that starts the day after your employer coverage ends. You can enroll through Maryland Health Connection at marylandhealthconnection.gov during those 60 days, and you can also apply up to 60 days before the loss date. For example, if coverage ends October 31, 2026, your SEP runs November 1 through December 30, 2026. Maryland Medicaid has no deadline and accepts applications year-round. A spouse's employer plan typically allows 30 days. If you miss the SEP, Maryland's Open Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage begins November 1, 2026, and you would have no protection against a coverage gap until a new plan starts.
How do I document my job loss for a Maryland Health Connection SEP?
Maryland Health Connection accepts documents that show the date your employer coverage ended. Strong options include a termination letter from your employer, a certificate of creditable coverage under Section 9831 (HIPAA), a COBRA election notice showing the coverage end date, or a final pay stub that shows health deductions stopping. Upload the files at marylandhealthconnection.gov after you report the qualifying life event. Include Social Security numbers and your Maryland address in the application. Submit documents well before Day 60 of your SEP, because a pending verification request does not extend the window if the plan selection is late.
What if I miss the 60-day SEP window in Maryland?
Missing the 60-day window means you cannot enroll in a Maryland Health Connection plan until Open Enrollment, which begins November 1, 2026 for 2027 coverage. You may go months uninsured, and any medical bills during the gap fall on you. Two exceptions help: Maryland Medicaid and MCHP accept applications year-round, so a low-income household can still enroll after Day 60, and COBRA or Maryland continuation coverage has its own election period. If you believe a delay was outside your control, ask Maryland Health Connection about an exceptional circumstances SEP.
Can I get retroactive coverage after losing my job in Maryland?
Marketplace plans through Maryland Health Connection are not retroactive for a loss-of-coverage SEP. Coverage normally starts the first of the month after you pick a plan, and applying before your employer coverage ends lets you avoid a gap. COBRA is the exception: once you elect it within 60 days, coverage is retroactive to the day your group plan ended, as long as you pay the premiums. Maryland Medicaid may cover recent medical bills for up to 3 months before the application month under federal retroactive eligibility rules, if you met eligibility during those months. Confirm the specifics with Maryland Health Connection.
What is the difference between COBRA and Maryland Health Connection after a job loss?
COBRA keeps your exact employer plan, doctors, and met deductible, but you pay 102% of the full premium, typically $400 to $900/mo for one person in 2026. Maryland Health Connection plans use premium tax credits that cut costs for households under 400% FPL ($63,840 for one person in 2026), and Maryland state subsidies may lower costs further. The networks differ, so check your doctors before switching. COBRA gives 60 days to elect and up to 18 months of coverage. Most laid-off Marylanders pay less on Maryland Health Connection, while COBRA suits people mid-treatment or close to their annual deductible.
What Maryland-specific rules apply to job loss and health coverage in 2026?
Maryland runs its own Marketplace, Maryland Health Connection, so you do not use healthcare.gov. Maryland Medicaid covers adults under 138% FPL ($22,025 for one person in 2026), and children can qualify through MCHP up to 322% FPL. Smaller employers that use fully insured plans fall under Maryland continuation coverage: up to 18 months, a 45-day election period, and at least 3 months of prior coverage. Maryland also runs a State Subsidy Program that partly replaces expired federal credits, though eligibility for new SEP enrollees was reviewed by the exchange board in March 2026. Check current rules at marylandhealthconnection.gov.
Do I qualify for Maryland Medicaid after losing my job?
Maryland Medicaid covers adults 19 to 64 whose household income is at or below 138% FPL, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of 4 in 2026. Maryland counts your current monthly income, so a layoff that cuts your pay can qualify you even if you earned more in 2025. Unemployment benefits count as income. Apply at marylandhealthconnection.gov or call 1-855-642-8572. Medicaid has no premium or deductible and no application deadline. If your income is above the line, you can still receive premium tax credits on Maryland Health Connection up to 400% FPL.
What happens to my children's coverage after I lose my job in Maryland?
Your children can stay covered even if your job-based coverage ends. Maryland Medicaid and the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP, Maryland's CHIP) cover children in households up to 322% FPL per KFF's January 2026 data, which is far above the adult Medicaid limit. For a family of 4 in 2026, that income level is about $106,260. Apply at marylandhealthconnection.gov at any time of year with no deadline. If your family earns above the MCHP limit, the children can join your Maryland Health Connection plan during the 60-day SEP or be covered by a spouse's employer plan.
