Transferring Medicaid from Maryland to Washington
You cannot carry Maryland Medicaid into Washington. Each state runs its own program, so the sequence is: close the Maryland case at the end of your move month, then apply with Apple Health immediately. New residents are judged on Washington's income and category rules, not on time lived in the state.
Both states cover adults under expansion rules at 138% of the federal poverty level, so if you qualified on income in Maryland, you will likely qualify in Washington too.
Official Washington Medicaid agency: Washington State Health Care Authority ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Gather your documents before the move
You will reapply from scratch: proof of identity, income (pay stubs or award letters), your new address, and immigration documents if applicable.
- 2
Tell Maryland Department of Health you are leaving
Report your move and ask for your case to be closed effective the end of the month you leave. Medicaid cannot cover you in two states at once.
Maryland Department of Health ↗
Moving week
- 3
Time the closure to the end of your move month
Keep coverage through the month you travel. Your old state's coverage generally ends the month you stop being a resident.
After you arrive
- 4
Apply with Washington State Health Care Authority as soon as you arrive
There is no waiting period based on how long you have lived there — apply immediately. Processing: up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed). From January 1, 2027 (earlier in some states), most adults in the expansion group must also show 80 hours a month of work, school, job training, or community service, or an exemption, possibly for 1 to 3 months preceding the application.
Online application ↗ - 5
Ask about retroactive coverage
Most states can pay eligible medical bills from as early as the third month before the month you apply, so ask when you apply if you had care during the gap. For applications filed on or after January 1, 2027, federal law (Public Law 119-21) shortens this to the month before the month you apply for adults in the expansion group and the second month before the month you apply for everyone else.
Maryland vs Washington: the numbers that decide it
| Maryland (old state) | Washington (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Maryland Medical Assistance | Apple Health |
| Agency | Maryland Department of Health | Washington State Health Care Authority |
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level | 138% of the federal poverty level |
Monthly income limits by household size: Maryland vs Washington
| Household size | Maryland | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1,836 | $1,836 |
| 2 people | $2,489 | $2,489 |
| 3 people | $3,142 | $3,142 |
| 4 people | $3,795 | $3,795 |
| 5 people | $4,449 | $4,449 |
| 6 people | $5,102 | $5,102 |
Limits for adults, computed from each state's published % of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines and rounded up to the dollar. Children, pregnancy, and 65+/disability rules differ; each state's own chart controls and may still show 2025 figures. Full tables: Maryland · Washington · 2026 poverty guidelines.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Maryland → Washington checklistCommon questions
Can I use my Maryland Medicaid in Washington while I wait?
Generally no. Maryland Medicaid only pays providers for Maryland residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Washington, you need Washington coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Washington?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Washington's income and category rules from the day you become a resident. The application itself takes up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed).
Can I have Medicaid in two states at once?
No. You can only receive Medicaid from the state where you live. Keeping an old case open while opening a new one can create repayment problems — close the Maryland case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Washington?
Through Washington State Health Care Authority (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Washington to Maryland Medicaid
- Medicaid in Maryland: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Washington: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- Maryland to North Dakota Medicaid
- Maryland to Pennsylvania Medicaid
- Maryland to Tennessee Medicaid
- Maryland to Virginia Medicaid
Other benefits on the same move
- SNAP: Maryland to Washington
- WIC: Maryland to Washington
- Unemployment: Maryland to Washington
- TANF: Maryland to Washington
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Medicaid expansion · Retroactive Medicaid coverage
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- Maryland Department of Health — Medicaid (MMCP) — accessed 2026-08-08
- HCA — Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage — accessed 2026-08-08
- HCA — Apple Health for individual adults — accessed 2026-08-08