Who must carry it in Maryland
Every employer with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation, with an exception for agricultural employers with fewer than three full-time employees and a small payroll.
Who counts as an employee
Part-time employees count. Sole proprietors and partners are covered only by election. The label on the paycheck does not settle it: Maryland applies its own employee test, and a worker who fails it is an employee for workers' compensation no matter what the contract says.
Owners, officers and LLC members
Sole proprietors, partners and LLC members may elect coverage; officers of a close corporation may exclude themselves by filing with the Commission. The election is made on the policy and affects both coverage and premium, so decide it before the policy is bound rather than at audit.
The day you hire
CoverMatch quotes workers' compensation from the first employee, with pay-as-you-go billing through most payroll companies where a carrier offers it, so the policy can start the week you hire without a large deposit. Add the policy to your wallet and the live certificate is ready for the general contractor or client who asks for proof.
If you go without
Uninsured employers face fines, misdemeanor liability for officers, and personal liability for benefits. The specific amounts and procedures are in the statute and on the agency page linked above; they change, and the licensed agent who reviewed this page checks them on each update.