Transferring Medicaid from South Dakota to Maryland
Think of it as two separate programs: South Dakota Medicaid ends with your residency, and Maryland Medical Assistance begins with a new application. Nothing carries over automatically. Submit the Maryland application as soon as you have an address there.
Both states cover adults under expansion rules at 138% of the federal poverty level, so if you qualified on income in South Dakota, you will likely qualify in Maryland too.
Official Maryland Medicaid agency: Maryland Department of Health ↗ (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 South Dakota Department of Social Services 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.
South Dakota Department of Social Services ↗
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 Maryland Department of Health 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.
South Dakota vs Maryland: the numbers that decide it
| South Dakota (old state) | Maryland (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | South Dakota Medicaid | Maryland Medical Assistance |
| Agency | South Dakota Department of Social Services | Maryland Department of Health |
| 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: South Dakota vs Maryland
| Household size | South Dakota | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| 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: South Dakota · Maryland · 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 South Dakota → Maryland checklistCommon questions
Can I use my South Dakota Medicaid in Maryland while I wait?
Generally no. South Dakota Medicaid only pays providers for South Dakota residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Maryland, you need Maryland coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Maryland?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Maryland'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 South Dakota case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Maryland?
Through Maryland Department of Health (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Maryland to South Dakota Medicaid
- Medicaid in South Dakota: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Maryland: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- South Dakota to Vermont Medicaid
- South Dakota to Wisconsin Medicaid
- South Dakota to Arizona Medicaid
- South Dakota to Missouri Medicaid
Other benefits on the same move
- SNAP: South Dakota to Maryland
- WIC: South Dakota to Maryland
- Unemployment: South Dakota to Maryland
- TANF: South Dakota to Maryland
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 .
- SD DSS — Medicaid — accessed 2026-08-08
- SD DSS — Medicaid changes (HR1) — expansion group definition — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland Department of Health — Medicaid (MMCP) — accessed 2026-08-08