The $50 is tied to the year, not the card
Pennsylvania's patient fee is $50, and the Department of Health is specific about how it works: payments are not tied to the ID card. You pay once every 12 months, regardless of how many cards or certifications you are issued in that time. The Medical Marijuana Act calls it a processing fee.
That design matters in practice. A physician can set a certification shorter than a year, which can mean a new certification before 12 months have passed. Under the Department's rule, a new certification inside the same 12-month window does not trigger a second $50. The Department emails a reminder 30 days before your next annual payment is due.
Who pays nothing
Patients enrolled in Medicaid (Pennsylvania's Medical Assistance), CHIP, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC pay $0. The waiver came with Phase 1 of the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program, which the Department implemented on March 1, 2022, and it applies to caregivers enrolled in those programs as well. The statute separately allows the Department to waive or reduce the fee when an applicant shows financial hardship.
There is no veterans discount. If you are not enrolled in one of the five listed programs, the standard $50 applies. Our explainer on getting the card fee waived walks through eligibility in more detail.
Add up your own first year
Choose the fee that applies to you and enter the certification price you have been quoted. The calculator spreads the total across the 12 months the card can last.
The $50 annual fee and the $0 rate for people enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC come from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The certification price is set by the practitioner or service, and each yearly renewal requires a new certification.
Every state fee in one table
| Item | Amount | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Patient annual fee | $50 | Paid once every 12 months, however many cards you are issued |
| Patient fee with Medicaid, CHIP, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC | $0 | MMAP Phase 1, in place since March 1, 2022 |
| Caregiver ID card application | $50 | Waivable or reducible for financial hardship; $0 for caregivers in the listed programs |
| Caregiver background check | $0 | Fees eliminated under MMAP Phase 2 since March 1, 2022 |
| First replacement card | $25 | The old card is deactivated when you request a replacement |
| Each additional replacement | $50 | Applies to the second replacement and every one after |
| Physician certification | Set by the practitioner or service | Required for the first card and again for every renewal |
Caregivers have their own requirements beyond the fee, including a fingerprint-based background check. The caregiver guide covers them.
The certification is the cost you can shop for
The state does not set what a physician charges. The practitioner or service that certifies you sets the price, and because each renewal requires a new certification, it is a yearly expense rather than a one-time one. You can use any registered practitioner each year; you are not tied to the one who certified you first.
Since Act 44 of 2021, certifications can happen through real-time audio or video, which widens the choice for anyone outside a city. Our page on online evaluations explains who may certify you remotely.
Need a physician certification?
Online evaluations are available for Pennsylvania residents. Code DRWDY85872 takes 5% off. The physician, not the booking service, decides whether you are certified.
Book my PA evaluation →Help after you have the card
Phase 3 of the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program pays a $50 benefit per month to each eligible patient. For now, only patients enrolled in PACE or PACENET qualify; the pilot launched in November 2022. As of March 1, 2026, the Department reported $1,960,762 in Phase 3 benefits given. The Department's Bureau of Medical Marijuana says it has provided patient assistance in some form since December 2017.
If you are enrolled in PACE or PACENET, you may qualify for both the $0 card fee and the $50 monthly benefit. Check the Department's MMAP page for how the monthly benefit is delivered.
What you will not pay at the counter
Medical marijuana is exempt from Pennsylvania sales tax. The Medical Marijuana Act does impose a 5% tax, but on growers and processors, measured on what they receive from dispensaries, and the law says it may not be added to your purchase as a separate charge or line item. The tax exists; it simply never appears on your receipt.
Your next step: if you have not been certified yet, the application guide shows where the payment fits, and the renewal guide explains how to keep the yearly cycle from lapsing.
Questions people ask
Is there a discount for veterans?
No. Pennsylvania has no veteran-specific fee reduction. The $0 rate is tied only to enrollment in CHIP, Medicaid, PACE/PACENET, SNAP or WIC.
Does the $50 cover the physician's visit?
No. The $50 is the state's annual fee. The practitioner or service that certifies you sets its own price, and you need a new certification every year.
When is the next $50 due?
Twelve months after your last payment. The Department of Health emails a reminder 30 days before the annual fee is due, separate from the 60-day certification reminder.
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This page explains Pennsylvania law and Department of Health guidance in general terms; it is not medical or legal advice, and only a registered physician can certify a patient.