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COBRA in Maryland

Maryland continuation is unusual in three ways. It is not limited to small employers. Quitting voluntarily does not disqualify you. And the election form does not arrive automatically. You have to ask for it.

Reviewed and updated 1 August 2026 against Maryland Insurance Administration guidance and federal sources.

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You Have to Ask for the Form

The employer's clock starts when you request it

The Maryland Insurance Administration is specific about the sequence. You must notify your employer as soon as possible if you want to continue coverage. Your employer is then required to supply an election notification form within 14 days of your request.
That is different from federal COBRA, where the employer must notify you whether or not you ask. In Maryland, waiting for paperwork to arrive can consume much of your election window before anything is sent.
You then have 45 days from the date of termination to complete, sign and return the form. Sixty days if the qualifying event was a divorce.

Maryland Continuation Compared With Federal COBRA

Federal COBRAMaryland continuation
Employer size20 or more employeesApplies regardless of employer size
Plan typeInsured and self-fundedFully insured only. Not self-insured plans or stand-alone dental
ResidencyNo requirementYou must be a Maryland resident
If you quitCoveredCovered. Voluntary resignation qualifies
If dismissed for causeOnly gross misconduct excludedTermination for cause is excluded
How long18 months, up to 36 for some events18 months
Your window to elect60 days45 days from termination, 60 following divorce
Administrative feeUp to 2 percentUp to 2 percent
Prior coverage neededNoneThree months with the same employer
Because Maryland continuation is not restricted to small employers, some people are eligible for both federal COBRA and the state right. Where that happens it is worth comparing the two, since the qualifying events and end dates differ.

Divorce and Death Work Differently

Maryland sets separate rules depending on who is continuing coverage and why, and the differences matter.
A surviving spouse must have been covered under the contract for at least 30 days before the employee’s death. Continuation then runs 18 months.
A former spouse after divorce has continuation that ends when they become eligible for other group coverage, become covered under a non-group plan, or remarry. Notice of the divorce must be given to the employer.
Dependent children after a death or divorce are treated differently again. Their coverage ends on the date they would have aged off the group contract had the death or divorce not happened. So continuation does not extend a child past the plan’s limiting age.
More on qualifying life events →

What Is Not Covered

Maryland continuation applies to fully insured hospital, surgical and medical group contracts. It does not apply to self-insured employer plans, which the state does not regulate, and it does not apply to stand-alone dental plans.
If you had dental through a separate policy, expect it to end. Standalone dental and vision cover is available individually and is usually inexpensive relative to medical.
Dental, vision and other supplemental coverage →
Continuation also ends early if you fail to pay on time, become eligible for another group medical policy or HMO, or become entitled to Medicare.

Your Other Options in Maryland

Maryland runs its own marketplace, Maryland Health Connection, rather than using HealthCare.gov. Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions work the same way, and losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.
Maryland expanded Medicaid, so adults with household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify. There is no enrolment window for Medicaid, so you can apply at any point in the year.
Anyone who does not qualify for continuation may still be able to obtain a conversion policy. The Maryland Insurance Administration notes that conversion policies typically carry higher premiums and fewer benefits, so compare one against a marketplace plan before taking it.

Read Next

How much COBRA actually costs →
Compare COBRA and Marketplace side by side →
What to do when you lose coverage →
How federal COBRA works →  ·  COBRA rules by state →

Sources

Drawn from Maryland Insurance Administration bulletins, the Maryland Insurance Article, and federal sources. Your plan documents and the terms your carrier provides govern your specific situation.

Ask for the form, then call us

Maryland will not send the election form until you request it. A licensed agent can confirm what you are entitled to, work out your deadline, and price a Maryland Health Connection plan alongside it. No charge, no obligation.
Get My Options

Prefer to talk? Call (888) 918-4516 · Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern

This page is general information about Maryland and federal continuation coverage, not advice about your specific situation. Eligibility depends on residency, how long you were covered, why your employment ended, and whether the plan was fully insured. Rules, pricing, and eligibility vary by employer, plan, carrier, and household. Review your plan documents and speak with a licensed agent about your circumstances.

This website provides educational information about health insurance and is a solicitation for insurance. It is a non-government website operated by Prodest Insurance Group, a health insurance agency that presents health plans, which may include Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, private health insurance, short-term medical insurance, or supplemental insurance based on the consumer's selection. Qualified ACA plans must meet or exceed the essential benefit requirements of the Affordable Care Act; non-ACA plans are not required to provide all of the essential benefit requirements contained in the Affordable Care Act. Pre-existing condition provisions, benefit availability, limitations and exclusions vary by plan type and state. You should review all plan details and product brochures before purchase. To qualify for ACA health insurance coverage outside of the open enrollment period, you must meet special enrollment requirements.

*Eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions is based on annual federal income thresholds, household size, and plan availability within the applicable service area. Premium rates, plan availability, and subsidy amounts vary by state and marketplace. Final eligibility and premium obligations are determined by the Health Insurance Marketplace under Internal Revenue Code Section 36B and applicable federal regulations.

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