MaineCare (Maine Medicaid)

MaineCare is the Medicaid program in Maine. It is free or low-cost health insurance and other help paying for health care for people who meet rules such as income, age, or medical condition. It covers children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. You can apply online through My Maine Connection, by mail, email, fax, or in person at a district office. To ask about eligibility, call the Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357.

Maine expanded MaineCare, which is a big change for adults. Because of that expansion, low-income adults ages 21 to 64 now qualify based on income alone, even without children and without a disability. For that group, the monthly income limit is $1,836 for one person, $2,490 for two, $3,142 for three, and $3,796 for four, with $654 added for each extra person. So if you were turned down for Medicaid in the past, it is worth applying again. The expansion means childless adults who once had no way to get MaineCare now have one, as long as their income falls under the limit for their household size.

Children and young adults qualify at higher income limits. For children and young adults through age 20, the monthly limit is $4,057 for one person, $5,501 for two, $6,944 for three, and $8,388 for four, with $1,444 added for each extra person. Because those limits reach further up the income scale, a working family that earns too much for adult coverage can often still get the children covered. That gap between the adult and child limits is common, and it is why a family should list every child on the application even when the parents may not qualify.

Pregnant applicants have their own limits, which sit in between. For a pregnant applicant, the monthly limit is $2,847 for one person, $3,830 for two, $4,873 for three, and $5,886 for four, with $1,013 added per extra person. A pregnancy is a good moment to apply, since coverage during pregnancy protects both the parent and the baby.

Do not count yourself out over the income line. Maine's page states that you may still qualify even if your income is over the listed limits, so applying is the way to find out. Young adults who were in foster care also have their own pathway to coverage, and children, older adults, and people with disabilities each have their own group. The rules are made to fit many different situations. If you are not sure which group you fall into, you do not have to figure it out on your own, since the application walks through the questions and a worker can help.

One application covers a lot. The same My Maine Connection application also covers SNAP and TANF, so you can ask for food and cash help in the same place. While your application is processed, you can dial 2-1-1 to find a community health center near you. Keeping your contact information current also helps, so any notice about your coverage reaches you without delay.