You can still apply for a health plan even if not all of your family members have an immigration status that qualifies them for coverage.

In households with mixed immigration statuses, the person applying should be the adult who is either a U.S. citizen or lawfully present, even if that person is not seeking coverage themselves.

Only certain immigration statuses qualify an individual to receive Medicaid. In addition, under most immigration statuses, you must be lawfully present in the U.S. for five years (“the five-year bar”) before you are eligible for Medicaid, but a limited number of groups are exempt from the five-year requirement. Children under 21 are not subject to the five-year requirement. Pregnant individuals of any immigration status are eligible for Medicaid. For more information, visit: https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/medicaid-mch-initiatives/Pages/healthybabies.aspx

However, beginning Oct. 1, 2026 only these immigration statuses qualify for Medicaid:

• Cuban/Haitian entrant

• Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant

• Lawful Permanent Resident (LPRs or green card holders that have met the five year bar)

Enrollment in Medicaid is year-round. To see if your immigration status may qualify you to enroll, apply at MarylandHealthConnection.gov or find free, in-person help at MarylandHealthConnection.gov/find-help.

You do not need a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for coverage. However, if you are requesting financial help and file taxes, you will be asked to provide your SSN.

The following immigration statuses are eligible to enroll in a private health plan, however many statuses will not eligible for financial help as of Jan. 1 2027.

Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who entered the U.S. after August 22, 1996

• Often called green-card holders.
• Applicant for LPR Adjustment with approved visa also may be eligible.

Granted Deferred Action Status

• An administrative order to pause expulsions may be granted for a limited number of reasons, such as age, physical condition or “compassionate reasons”.

Asylees

• An applicant for this status with employment authorization also may be eligible.

Aliens who entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996

• Often called “Green Card holders.”
• Applicant for Adjustment with approved visa also may be eligible.

Refugees

Deferred Enforced Departure

Battered spouse, parent or child (Under the Violence Against Women Act or VAWA)

Alien paroled into the U.S. for at least one year

Trafficking victim and spouse, child, sibling or parent

• An applicant for Victim of Trafficking Visa also may be eligible.

Veteran, active-duty military and their spouses

• Non-remarried surviving spouses and children of veterans or active-duty military also may be eligible.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the U.S. from countries designated (see USCIS.gov website for current list)

• An applicant for TPS with employment authorization also may be eligible.

Lawful Temporary Residents under the Immigration Reform & Control Act (IRCA) and family unity provisions under LIFE Act

• Applicants for IRCA or the LIFE Act plus employment authorization also may be eligible.
• Applicants for Registry plus employment authorization also may be eligible.
• A child with pending application for Special Immigrant Juvenile status also may be eligible.
• Applicant for Suspension of Deportation or Cancellation of Removal plus employment authorization also may be eligible.

Alien granted withholding of Deportation or Removal

• An applicant for this status with employment authorization also may be eligible.

Citizens of Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau

Lawfully Present Resident of American Samoa under its immigration laws

Iraqi and Afghan Nationals who worked for or on behalf of the U.S. Government in Iraq or Afghanistan

Member of federally recognized Indian tribe or American Indian born in Canada

Cuban/Haitian entrant

Individuals on an Order of Supervision with employment authorization

Non-Immigration status not in violation, includes students, U and V Visas, HB-1 and J Visas

• Diplomat or foreign government official (A); foreign military personnel stationed in the U.S. (A-2)
• Temporary visitor for business (B-1); temporary visitor for pleasure, recreational study, or medical treatment (B-2)
• Transiting the United States (C)
• Crewmember (D)
• Treaty trader (E-1); treaty investor (E-2); Australian professional specialty (E-3)
• Student (non-vocational) (F) l Employee of a designated international organization (G)
• Temporary professional worker in specialty occupation (H-1B); Free Trade Agreement professional: Chile, Singapore (H-1B1); Fashion model (H-1B3); Nurse for health professional shortage (H-1C); Temporary agricultural worker (H-2A); Temporary non- agricultural worker (H-2B); Trainee or special education visitor (H-3)
• Media, journalist (I)
• Exchange visitor (J)
• Intracompany transferee (L)
• Fiancé marrying U.S. citizen (K-1), Foreign- born spouse pending Green Card (K-3)
• Athlete or member of an entertainment group (P-1); Artist or entertainer (P-2; P-3)
• Parent or child of a Special Immigrant (N)
• Individual with extraordinary ability or achievement (O)
• Student (vocational) (M)
• Participant in an international cultural exchange program (Q-1)
• Religious worker (R)
• Spouse and children of a Lawful Permanent Resident (V)
• Victim of human trafficking (T)
• Victim of criminal activity (U)

Only certain immigration statuses qualify an individual to receive Medicaid. In addition, under most immigration statuses, you must be lawfully present in the U.S. for five years (“the five-year bar”) before you are eligible for Medicaid, but a limited number of groups are exempt from the five-year requirement. Children under 21 are not subject to the five-year requirement. Pregnant individuals of any immigration status are eligible for Medicaid. For more information, visit: https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/medicaid-mch-initiatives/Pages/healthybabies.aspx

If you do not have any of the immigration statuses listed above and have had a recent medical emergency, you may be able to apply for Emergency Medical Services.

For more information about coverage of Emergency Medical Services costs or to apply, please visit your local Department of Social Services at mydhrbenefits. dhr.state.md.us/dashboardClient/#/dssMap

Pregnancy Care
If you do not have any of the immigration statuses listed above and are pregnant, you may be able to apply for Medicaid. For more information about how to apply for pregnancy coverage, please call 1-855-642-8572 or visit: https://health.maryland.gov/mmcp/medicaid-mch-initiatives/Pages/healthybabies.aspx.

As of Jan. 1, 2027, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you must meet certain immigration status requirements to be eligible for financial help:

• Cuban/Haitian entrant

• Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant

• Lawful Permanent Resident

Right now, the federal government might share information about people who do not have a lawfully present immigration status with other federal agencies, including federal immigration officials, including their citizenship or immigration status, address, phone number, date of birth, and Medicaid ID.

Maryland Health Connection does not send your information directly to immigration officers or ICE. 

We cannot use your personal information for anything other than your health coverage application unless you provide consent.

For more information, see Maryland Health Connection’s Privacy Notice

Some family members may still get Medicaid, even if other family members do not qualify for coverage. 

If you are not applying for coverage for yourself, you do not need to provide your own immigration status. 

Only the specific family members who are applying for coverage need to share citizenship or immigration status. 

Undocumented parents should apply for children who are U.S. citizens or have an eligible immigration status.

Enrolling in health coverage will not prevent your loved ones who are undocumented from getting a green card or other legal documentation in the future. The personal information in your application won’t affect your current immigration status or your application for a green card or citizenship, and you cannot be deported for using your health benefits.

If the parent/guardian is deported, you will need to change the plan’s primary account holder by contacting the call center at 1-855-642-8572 or email mhbe.constituentservices@maryland.gov.

You may need to provide documentation to verify information in your application. For each person applying, you’ll need:

• Photo ID
• Social Security number or other documents (see below)
• Immigration/citizenship documents (for some residents)
• Pay stubs or W-2 wage and tax statement (if employed)
• Policy numbers for other health insurance (if any)

You can apply for coverage in any of the following ways:
1) Online – Create an account, complete your application, choose a plan and enroll online.
2) In Person – Complete your application in person with free, local help.
3) Phone – Call 1-855-642-8572. Deaf and hard of hearing use Relay service. Help is available in more than 200 languages.
4) Mobile App – Download our free mobile app, Enroll MHC, from the App Store (iPhone) or the Google™ Play Store (Android) to apply from your phone.