You may have heard about new federal Medicaid rules. Some changes are coming, but they will not affect everyone. There will be no change for most of the 1.5 million Marylanders that Medicaid serves.
Maryland Medicaid will send you an official notice before any change happens that will affect you. The notice will explain what is changing, when it will happen, and what you need to do.
What Is Changing?
A new federal law, H.R. 1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill), became law on July 4, 2025. This law changes some Medicaid eligibility and work rules for some non-citizens and adults.Changes for Non-citizens as of October 2026
Some non-citizens will no longer qualify for Medicaid, including:
- Asylees
- Refugees
- Non-citizens granted parole for at least one year
- Certain victims of abuse or trafficking
Some non-citizens will still qualify for Medicaid, including:
- Green card holders who meet the five-year rule
- Cuban and Haitian non-citizens
- Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants
- Pregnant people and children who currently qualify
For more information, see
immigration status requirements.
Note: The
Healthy Babies Program will not change.
Changes for Some Adults as of January 2027
These changes only apply to some adults ages 19 to 64 - around 300,000 Marylanders. Maryland Medicaid will let you know if these changes apply to you.
Work Requirements
You will need to complete 80 hours each month of approved activities to keep your Medicaid coverage. Activities may include working or volunteering. Some people may be exempt from this rule. Maryland Medicaid will share more information as it becomes available.
Renewal
You will need to renew your Medicaid coverage every six months instead of every 12 months. Maryland Medicaid will let you know when this change goes into effect for you.
