How to renew your Maryland Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Maryland Medicaid

Always respond to official renewal notices from Maryland Medicaid. Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Maryland Health Connection's 'Check-In' campaign launched June 1, 2026 — check your renewal status now

Maryland launched the Check-In campaign on June 1, 2026 at marylandhealthconnection.gov/checkin to help residents verify their current Medicaid and CHIP coverage status. If you're unsure whether your coverage is active or when your next renewal is due, visit the Check-In page or call 1-855-642-8572.

How Maryland renews Medicaid coverage

Maryland renews Medical Assistance and MCHP eligibility annually through a redetermination process. Maryland first attempts ex parte renewal — reviewing available data sources (SSA records, quarterly wage files, state tax information) to confirm continued eligibility automatically without requiring any action from the member.

If Maryland confirms your eligibility through ex parte sources, your coverage renews automatically. You receive a letter confirming renewal — no action required.

If Maryland cannot verify your eligibility through data already on file, a renewal packet is sent to your address on record. Members have 60 days to respond. Responding promptly — and keeping your address updated with Maryland Health Connection — prevents coverage gaps.

How to complete your Maryland Medical Assistance renewal

Online

Log into your Maryland Health Connection account at marylandhealthconnection.gov. Update any changed information and submit your renewal form online.

By phone

Call Maryland Health Connection at 1-855-642-8572 (TTY: 1-855-642-8573). Available Monday–Friday 8am–6pm ET.

In person

Visit your local Department of Social Services (DSS) office or a certified enrollment assister. Find locations at dhs.maryland.gov.

By mail

Complete your paper renewal form and mail to your local DSS office. Include copies of any required documents — keep originals for your records.

Documents you may need for renewal

Proof of income — pay stubs, employer letter, self-employment records, or SSA award letter
Proof of Maryland residency — utility bill, bank statement, or lease with current address
Social Security numbers for household members
Any changes in household size — births, deaths, moves in or out
Changes in health insurance — new employer coverage, gaining or losing Medicare

Keep your address updated to receive renewal notices

Maryland sends renewal notices to the address on file with Maryland Health Connection. If you have moved and have not updated your address, the notice goes to your old address — and you may lose coverage without ever seeing the renewal packet. Update your address immediately after a move at marylandhealthconnection.gov or by calling 1-855-642-8572.

Mailing notices is a federal requirement (42 CFR 435.916), but Maryland also sends email and text reminders if you have a portal account with contact information on file. Setting up a Maryland Health Connection account is the best way to ensure you don't miss renewal communications.

If your coverage is terminated

Termination at renewal triggers appeal rights. You have 90 days from the termination notice to request a fair hearing. If you request a hearing within 10 days of the termination notice, your coverage may continue during the hearing process. Contact your DSS office or Maryland Legal Aid (mdlab.org) if you believe your coverage was wrongly terminated.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Maryland Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Maryland Medicaid to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Maryland Medicaid sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Maryland Medicaid's online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Maryland Medicaid to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Maryland Medicaid within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Maryland Medicaid or update your information through the online portal at https://mmcp.health.maryland.gov.