Maryland Medicaid terminations in 2026 usually trace to one of four causes: income above the limit, missing paperwork at renewal, a change in household size or residency, or a change in immigration status. Each cause leads to a different best next move, so read your termination notice before you do anything else. The notice lists the end date, the reason, and your appeal rights. If income rose above 138% of the federal poverty level, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026, Maryland Health Connection will usually route you to a Marketplace plan with premium tax credits. If the reason is missing paperwork, you may be able to reverse the termination by sending the proof within the reconsideration period. The window to choose a Marketplace plan is a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), and Maryland Health Connection lists 60 days after Medicaid ends. A Maryland exchange rule extending the Medicaid-loss window to 120 days has been proposed, but we could not confirm it is in effect, so treat 60 days as your deadline.
Federal changes make 2026 and 2027 different from the unwinding years. The temporary unwinding-era Special Enrollment Periods have expired, so the standard Medicaid-loss qualifying life event is the rule that applies now. Federal H.R. 1 also takes effect in stages: Maryland Department of Health materials say Medicaid work requirements for expansion adults aged 19 to 64 start January 1, 2027, with 6-month renewals for that group, and some noncitizen eligibility limits begin October 1, 2026. Maryland also launched Maryland Premium Assistance for 2026 plan-year enrollees, but Maryland Health Connection states that enrolling after April 1, 2026 generally excludes you from it for 2026, and 2027 rules are not confirmed here. Healthcare.gov explains the federal Medicaid-loss SEP, and medicaid.gov documents the reconsideration rules that Maryland's exchange aligned with. This page walks through the sequence: confirm the reason, try to reinstate, test your income against the table, pick a plan within the window, and protect your appeal rights.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
Maryland Medicaid losses in 2026 go wrong in predictable ways, and most mistakes cost either coverage months or subsidy dollars.
- Assuming the federal 90-day rule applies. Maryland runs a state-based exchange, and a 120-day Medicaid-loss window has been proposed, but the consumer page lists 60 days and the 120-day rule is not confirmed as in effect, so aim for 60 days.
- Ignoring a paperwork-based termination. Medicaid ended for missing proof can often be reinstated through the reconsideration period without a new application, which is faster than shopping for a Marketplace plan.
- Skipping the children's application. MCHP covers children at much higher income levels than adult Medicaid, so a parent buying a Marketplace plan can still get a child covered for free or low cost.
- Reporting last year's income for subsidies. Marketplace premium tax credits use your projected 2026 household income, and a wrong estimate creates a repayment bill on Form 8962.
- Letting a work-requirement noncompliance denial happen in 2027. Federal H.R. 1 bars premium tax credits for people denied Medicaid for not meeting work requirements, so document your hours or exemption before renewal.
Maryland Medicaid Eligibility After Termination in 2026
Maryland Medicaid for adults is income-gated at 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level, because Maryland expanded Medicaid in 2014. For 2026 that means $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, and $45,540 for a family of four, as the household-size table above shows. Maryland Health Connection runs the single application for Maryland Medicaid, the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP), and Marketplace plans, so one submission tests you for every program. Children qualify at far higher income levels through MCHP, which is why a family can split coverage, with children on MCHP and parents on a Marketplace plan with premium tax credits. Medicaid income is measured by Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for the month of application, so a drop in pay can make you eligible again even if a yearly figure looks too high. Medicaid.gov documents the federal eligibility rules, and the federal poverty level guidelines come from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (aspe.hhs.gov). Check the Medicaid income limits page on this site for the multi-state view. If your income sits between 138% and 400% FPL in 2026, expect a Marketplace plan with subsidies to be the main path.
Maryland Medicaid-Loss SEP: 60 Days Listed, 120 Days Proposed
Federal-platform states give people who lose Medicaid 90 days after the loss to pick a Marketplace plan, a rule healthcare.gov describes for its own enrollees. Maryland operates a state-based exchange, so the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) writes its own rule. In August 2024 the MHBE Board proposed extending the Medicaid-loss window from 90 to 120 days, and January 2025 board materials presented regulation text at COMAR 14.35.07.12E(2)(a): select a plan up to 60 days before or within 120 days after losing Maryland Medicaid or MCHP coverage. We could not access the primary documents or confirm the rule was adopted and is in effect. The agency's stated reason is alignment, because Maryland Medicaid made its 120-day reconsideration period permanent after the public health emergency unwinding. Losing any other type of coverage keeps a 60-day window. Maryland Health Connection's consumer special enrollment page still tells visitors they have 60 days for qualifying life events such as becoming ineligible for Medicaid or MCHP. Until Maryland confirms the longer window, plan to finish within 60 days, and ask a navigator whether extra time applies if paperwork delays you. Confirm the exact end date with a Maryland Health Connection navigator or call 1-855-642-8572.
What H.R. 1 Changes for Maryland Medicaid Starting in 2027
Federal H.R. 1 adds work requirements for Medicaid expansion adults aged 19 to 64, and Maryland Department of Health materials confirm a start date of January 1, 2027. Under the rule as Maryland describes it for 2027, adults must show 80 hours per month of work or approved activity, earn $580 per month, or attend school at least half time, and affected adults renew every 6 months instead of every 12. Exemptions listed by Maryland include pregnancy, disability, caring for a young child, and a long-term health condition. Maryland Department of Health estimates that about 152,000 of roughly 320,000 expansion adults could lose coverage. Maryland Health Connection says it sent letters in September 2026 to people who will need to meet the requirements at their 2027 renewal. Federal law also limits retroactive Medicaid coverage for expansion adults to one month starting January 1, 2027, and as enacted it bars premium tax credits for people denied Medicaid for work-requirement noncompliance. These figures come from state and federal summaries and may be revised by federal guidance, so check kff.org and the Maryland Department of Health before relying on a date. If you re-enroll in Maryland Medicaid now, collect proof of hours or an exemption before your next renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Enrollment Period after losing Medicaid in Maryland?
Maryland Health Connection's consumer page lists 60 days after your Maryland Medicaid or MCHP coverage ends to select a Marketplace plan. For a loss on October 31, 2026, that runs September 1, 2026 through December 30, 2026. A proposed exchange rule, COMAR 14.35.07.12, would extend this to 120 days (through February 28, 2027), but we could not confirm it is in effect, and healthcare.gov uses 90 days in federal-platform states. Choosing a plan within 60 days is the safest target. The loss of Medicaid is a qualifying life event for the Marketplace SEP, and your plan usually starts the first day of the month after you select it.
How do I document losing Medicaid for the SEP?
Upload your Maryland Medicaid termination or denial notice to your Maryland Health Connection account. The notice shows the end date and the reason, which is the proof Maryland Health Connection uses for the Marketplace Special Enrollment Period. If you lost the letter, log in to your account to view notices or call 1-855-642-8572 for a copy. Add pay stubs or other income records showing projected 2026 household income so your premium tax credit calculates correctly. Keep copies of every upload, since a missing document is among the most common reasons an SEP application stalls.
What happens if I miss the SEP window in Maryland?
A missed window leaves you without Marketplace coverage until the next Open Enrollment Period, and Maryland Health Connection's enrollment for 2027 coverage begins November 1, 2026 (confirm the closing date on marylandhealthconnection.gov). You would be uninsured in the meantime, with no gap protection. You can still re-apply for Maryland Medicaid at any time of year if income is at or below 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level, and children can enroll in MCHP year-round. Another qualifying life event, such as a move, marriage, or birth, can open a new SEP, but do not count on one.
Can I get retroactive coverage after losing Maryland Medicaid?
Marketplace plans do not backdate: coverage generally starts the first day of the month after you select a plan, so choosing early limits a gap. Maryland Medicaid can cover bills from before your application month when you were eligible, currently up to three months, but H.R. 1 limits retroactive coverage for expansion adults to one month starting January 1, 2027 (two months for other enrollees). If your termination was a paperwork error, sending the missing proof within the reconsideration period may reinstate coverage without a gap. Ask Maryland Health Connection whether your case qualifies, and verify the current retroactive rules at medicaid.gov.
What is the difference between COBRA and the Marketplace after losing Medicaid?
COBRA only applies if you had job-based coverage, so most people who lose Maryland Medicaid will not have it. If you do, COBRA costs 102% of the full premium, roughly $400 to $900/mo for an individual in 2026, and you have 60 days to elect it. Marketplace plans through Maryland Health Connection cost far less for many households once premium tax credits apply, though networks may differ. A spouse's employer plan usually requires enrollment within 30 days. Choose COBRA mainly to keep a specific doctor or to preserve a met deductible; otherwise compare Marketplace plans first.
What Maryland-specific rules apply after losing Medicaid in 2026?
Maryland runs its own exchange, Maryland Health Connection, with a 60-day Medicaid-loss window listed on its consumer page; a 120-day window under COMAR 14.35.07.12 has been proposed but is not confirmed in effect. Maryland Premium Assistance, new for 2026, adds state help for incomes up to 400% FPL, but Maryland Health Connection says enrolling after April 1, 2026 generally excludes you for 2026, so ask about 2027 eligibility. A separate state subsidy helps ages 18 to 37. Starting January 1, 2027, federal H.R. 1 work requirements apply to Medicaid expansion adults aged 19 to 64, per Maryland Department of Health. Medicaid is administered by the Maryland Department of Health.
Do I qualify for Maryland Medicaid again after termination?
Maryland Medicaid covers adults with household income at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which is $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026. Income is counted as MAGI for the current month, so a recent pay drop can restore eligibility. If your termination came from missing paperwork, you may qualify as soon as you submit proof. Pregnant women, people with disabilities, and some caretakers may have different limits. Apply at marylandhealthconnection.gov, which tests you for Medicaid, MCHP, and Marketplace subsidies in one application.
What happens to my children's coverage after I lose Medicaid?
Children's coverage is tested separately from yours. The Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP) covers children under 19 at far higher income levels than adult Medicaid, reported at up to 322% FPL in 2026, so your children may stay covered even if you no longer qualify. Apply for them through Maryland Health Connection, where enrollment is open year-round. Higher-income families may pay a monthly premium. Maryland's CHIP is MCHP, and medicaid.gov lists the federal CHIP rules. Confirm current limits with Maryland Health Connection before relying on the percentage.
