NEW CASTLE – Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace’s has entered its 13th year of open enrollment.

Coverage for enrollees who sign up by Dec. 15 and pay their first month’s premium will be effective Jan. 1.

Delawareans can renew existing coverage or sign up for a new plan at HealthCare.gov. The open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, 2026.

Individuals who don’t act by Jan. 15, 2026, cannot get coverage for 2026 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on circumstances such as a loss of qualifying health coverage, change of income, becoming a parent, or other qualifying factors.

“Our priority has always been to expand access to affordable, high-quality health coverage through the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “We are proud that residents can continue to access a competitive market, despite federal policy changes that have increased premiums.”

For the 2026 plan year, consumers will choose from 40 plans offered by three carriers.

Plans on the marketplace are spread among metal-level categories – bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic – and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with their insurance company. Bronze plans have low monthly premiums but high costs when you need care; gold plans have high premiums but lower costs when you need care. In a silver plan, the insurer pays about 70% of medical costs and the consumer pays about 30%. Consumers who pick silver health care plans might also qualify for additional savings through discounts on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

All plans on the marketplace offer essential health benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control, and breastfeeding coverage. In addition, coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status.

Consumers can go to HealthCare.gov or CuidadodeSalud.gov now to explore their options for 2025 coverage, and they can enroll anytime up until Jan. 15, 2026.

Commissioner Navarro also urged residents to work with the state’s official navigators, or a verified insurance broker to find the best coverage for their needs and budget. “Buying health insurance can already feel overwhelming, especially with the wide range of plans and companies out there. Unfortunately, some companies or agents may use confusing language or deceptive tactics to sell you coverage that’s overpriced, inadequate, or misleading. Our Smart Buyer’s Guide to Individual Health Insurance can help.”

The Department of Insurance has noted a rapid rise in predatory and deceptive activity around Open Enrollment, including scammers signing up residents for coverage without their knowledge in order to obtain commissions, and the use of lead generators to bombard residents researching coverage with efforts to sell non-comprehensive coverage. The guide will assist consumers in verifying if coverage is comprehensive, if contact is from a legitimate, trusted agent, and provides questions to consider during the process.

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare locations statewide.

“Every Delawarean deserves access to high quality, affordable health coverage, and no matter what happens in Washington, we will keep working to make that a reality,” Delaware Health and Social Services Secretary Christen Linke Young said. “We encourage individuals and families to visit HealthCare.Gov to review plans and connect with trained navigators if they need help.”

State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge.

Delawareans can enroll in marketplace coverage at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

NEW CASTLE – Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace’s open enrollment period started today, Nov. 1, as the marketplace enters its 12th year of open enrollment.

The open enrollment period will run through Jan. 15, 2025. Delawareans can renew existing coverage or sign up for a new plan at www.HealthCare.gov. Coverage for enrollees who sign up by Dec. 15 and pay their first month’s premium will be effective Jan. 1.

Individuals who don’t act by Jan. 15, 2025, cannot get coverage for 2025 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on circumstances such as a loss of qualifying health coverage, change of income, becoming a parent, or other qualifying factors.

For the 2025 plan year, consumers will choose from 45 plans offered by four carriers. This enrollment period will also offer persons with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status the ability to enroll in the comprehensive Affordable Care Act coverage offered.

“The health of our state depends on the health of our residents. A critical part of that is making sure Delawareans have access to affordable, quality health care,” said Governor John Carney. “Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace offers four insurers and 45 plans this year. I encourage all Delawareans to closely consider those selections, especially small-business owners, independent contractors, and individuals who don’t have access to health insurance through an employer. Please make your health a priority.”

“Our Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace is thriving, with increased competition, enhanced subsidies, and important policy efforts increasing enrollment 77% since 2021. I’m glad to have strong partners, from Congress to our local navigators, from state agencies to state legislators, who help make this progress possible,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “Visit Healthcare.gov today to make your plan for 2025 coverage – and if you aren’t insured right now, check if you may qualify for coverage today.”

Plans on the marketplace are spread among metal-level categories – bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic – and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with their insurance company. Bronze plans have low monthly premiums but high costs when you need care; gold plans have high premiums but lower costs when you need care. In a silver plan, the insurer pays about 70% of medical costs and the consumer pays about 30%. Consumers who pick silver health care plans might also qualify for additional savings through discounts on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

All plans on the marketplace offer essential health benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control, and breastfeeding coverage. In addition, coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status.

“All Delaware families need access to affordable, quality health care,” said Delaware Department of Health and Social Services Director of Health Care Reform Steven Costantino. “We appreciate the stability the Biden administration, our congressional delegation, the Insurance Commissioner, and our own reinsurance program have all brought to the marketplace. With 45 plans to choose from, I encourage everyone to visit HealthCare.gov to see what type of plan would work for you.”

Assistance for Delaware enrollees

Consumers can go to HealthCare.gov or CuidadodeSalud.gov now to explore their options for 2025 coverage, and they can enroll anytime between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15, 2026.

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare (statewide) and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. Westside received increased federal funding for navigators to help people enroll for coverage.

State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge.

Delawareans can enroll in marketplace coverage at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

Support from Congressional Delegation

Delaware’s U.S. senators and representative urged uninsured Delawareans to find out what’s available for them on the marketplace.

“The health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are helping Delawareans and folks around the country get the affordable health care they so desperately need,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper, who helped author the ACA. “With more plans offered each year, and free help to enroll, it’s easy to get signed up. Don’t delay – enroll in coverage today!”

“Every Delawarean deserves high-quality, affordable health care,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “No one should ever have to put off care due to a lack of coverage. I encourage everyone to check out the affordable options available on the health insurance marketplace during open enrollment and make sure you and your family are covered for the year ahead.”

“All Delawareans deserve access to quality, reliable, and affordable health care,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the House Health Subcommittee. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act that I championed in Congress, we are extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and reducing the cost of health care for Delawareans enrolled in the marketplace. I encourage folks across our state to take advantage of this critical opportunity before the open enrollment period ends by going to Healthcare.gov to find a plan that works best!”

In addition to the Health Insurance Marketplace, some residents might be eligible for coverage though Delaware’s expanded Medicaid program, which is open year-round. To be screened for or to apply for Medicaid benefits, visit Delaware ASSIST.

NEW CASTLE – Delawareans seeking coverage for 2024 will find more choice in insurers and plans than ever before on the Health Insurance Marketplace in the 11th year of open enrollment.

The marketplace’s open enrollment period started today, Nov. 1, and ends Jan. 15, 2024. Consumers can renew existing coverage or sign up for a new plan at www.HealthCare.gov. Coverage for enrollees who sign up by Dec. 15 and pay their first month’s premium will be effective Jan. 1.

Individuals who don’t act by Jan. 15, 2024, cannot get coverage for 2024 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on circumstances such as a loss of qualifying health coverage, change of income, becoming a parent, or other qualifying factors.

Delawareans have four insurers to choose from this year, one more than the year prior, and a total of 55 plans compared to 30 plans last year. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced in June that a new insurer – Celtic Insurance Company Ambetter Health of Delaware – would join Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, AmeriHealth Caritas, and Aetna CVS Health in offering coverage on the marketplace for 2024.

“All Delaware families need access to affordable, quality health care,” said Governor John Carney. “This year, individuals have the most options available since the marketplace began 11 years ago. With four insurers and 55 plans, I encourage all Delawareans to closely consider those selections, especially small-business owners, independent contractors, and individuals who don’t have access to health insurance through an employer. Please make your health a priority.”

Plans on the marketplace are spread among metal-level categories – bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic – and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with their insurance company. Bronze plans have low monthly premiums but high costs when you need care; gold plans have high premiums but lower costs when you need care. In a silver plan, the insurer pays about 70% of medical costs and the consumer pays about 30%. Consumers who pick silver health care plans might also qualify for additional savings through discounts on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

For 2024:

• Aetna CVS Health will offer six plans – two gold and four silver.
• AmeriHealth Caritas will offer seven plans – one gold, three silver, one bronze and two expanded bronze.
• Celtic/Ambetter Health of Delaware will offer 24 plans – eight gold, eight silver, and eight expanded bronze.
• Highmark will offer 18 plans – three platinum, six gold, three silver, five bronze, and one catastrophic.
• Two dental insurers – Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc. and Dominion Dental Services, Inc. – will offer a collective 12 stand-alone dental plans on the marketplace seven with a low actuarial level (pay less monthly, but more when you get dental services) and five with a high actuarial level (pay more monthly, but less when you get dental care). Delta Dental will offer two plans, one high and one low, while Dominion Dental will offer 10 plans, four high and six low.

“As recently as the 2022 plan year, Delawareans had just one insurer and 12 plan options to choose from. This Open Enrollment, you’ll find four carriers and more than 50 plan options. Improving health care accessibility and affordability across our state is one of my top priorities, and I’m proud that our work has led both options and enrollments to an all-time high,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “I encourage you to contact your trusted navigators so you can find the right plan for the coming year.”

All plans on the marketplace offer essential health benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control, and breastfeeding coverage. In addition, coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status.

“Providing access to high-quality, affordable health care is one of the ways that we can improve the overall health and well-being of Delawareans,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Josette Manning. “We are grateful that this open enrollment period offers the highest number of plan options in the marketplace’s 11-year history and appreciate the stability the Biden administration, our congressional delegation, the Insurance Commissioner, and our own reinsurance program have all brought to the marketplace. I encourage everyone to visit HealthCare.gov for a look at the affordability of the available plans and how the coverage can fit into your family’s budget.”

“Health care is a right, not just a privilege for the few,’ said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Region 3 Director Melissa Herd. “The health insurance marketplace offers high quality, affordable health coverage options for Delawareans.”

Assistance for Delaware enrollees

Consumers can go to HealthCare.gov or CuidadodeSalud.gov now to explore their options for 2024 coverage, and they can enroll anytime between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15, 2024.

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare (statewide) and Quality Insights, Inc., (New Castle and Sussex counties) and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. Westside and Quality Insights each received increased federal funding for navigators to help people enroll for coverage.

State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge.

For more information, go to www.ChooseHealthDE.com. Delawareans can enroll in marketplace coverage at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

Support from Congressional Delegation

Delaware’s U.S. senators and representative urged uninsured Delawareans to find out what’s available for them on the marketplace.

“Open enrollment begins today, and quality, affordable health care coverage is available to everyone on the health insurance marketplace,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Health insurance navigators are available at no cost to help Delawareans review plans and pick the best one for themselves and their families, and I encourage Delawareans to get covered without delay.”

“For 11 years, the Affordable Care Act has provided quality, affordable health care coverage for Delawareans,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “I urge Delawareans to explore open enrollment, find the plan that works best for them, and gain the peace of mind that comes with ensuring that they and their families are covered.”

“The pandemic showed us just how critical access to quality, affordable health care is, and I am committed to ensuring that Delawareans can get the care they deserve,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the House Health Subcommittee. “As we mark the beginning of the open enrollment period, I want to encourage Delawareans to utilize HealthCare.gov to find an affordable health care plan that works for them and their families. Don’t wait to get covered – open enrollment ends on January 15th!”

In addition to the Health Insurance Marketplace, some residents might be eligible for coverage though Delaware’s expanded Medicaid program, which is open year-round. To be screened for or to apply for Medicaid benefits, visit Delaware ASSIST.

Congress sets April 1, 2023, as Medicaid renewal start date; Members should verify contact information with DHSS 

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) will resume the standard eligibility renewal process for Medicaid and CHIP recipients starting April 1, 2023, as required by federal law. Annual renewals have not been required since March 2020 during the federal Public Health Emergency designation. Federal legislation, signed into law on December 29, 2022, set a specific date to resume renewals, regardless of when the Public Health Emergency ends.  

As of January 2023, approximately 310,000 Delawareans were enrolled in Medicaid. Once annual renewals begin, there will be Delawareans who were receiving continuous coverage due to the Public Health Emergency that will no longer be eligible for Medicaid. DHSS estimates 40,000 to 50,000 Delaware residents may no longer qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, also known as the Delaware Healthy Children Program, and may be disenrolled.  

“Over the past three years, the state’s public assistance programs have been a crucial safety net for so many Delawareans,” said Molly Magarik, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). “As we prepare for the monumental task of restarting eligibility renewals again, our goal is to ensure Medicaid members who continue to be eligible stay enrolled and that those who are determined to no longer be eligible get connected to affordable coverage.”  

The most important thing Medicaid and CHIP members can do right now is to update their mailing address, email and phone numbers with DMMA and sign up for electronic notifications. Contact the Change Report Center at (302) 571-4900, Option 2 or send changes via fax to (302) 571-4901. Changes and notification preferences can also be made at ASSIST Self Service, https://assist.dhss.delaware.gov/. 

“There are many Delaware residents who qualified for Medicaid coverage for the first time during the Public Health Emergency who have never had to complete an annual renewal before,” said Steven Costantino, Director of Health Care Reform for DHSS. “This is why it is critical that we have the most accurate information available for each member, and that individuals on Medicaid watch out for communication to avoid a potential disruption in coverage.”   

Between April 2023 and April 2024, DHSS will review every member’s eligibility and, where approved by state or federal rules, use available data sources to automatically renew members. If DHSS cannot auto-renew a person’s coverage using available and approved data sources, the member will receive a renewal packet by mail or a notification by email, depending on the selected preference.  

Delaware Medicaid and its Managed Care Organization partners will also use texts, email, and social media when available to enhance outreach efforts. A member will be able to complete the renewal packet through a variety of ways: Online, by phone, by mail, by fax, or at any Division of Social Services (DSS) office located within the Delaware State Service Centers. 

Health care providers and others who provide services to members can help by reminding their Medicaid members to look for and complete their Medicaid renewals this year and to encourage them to start exploring other coverage options if they believe they will no longer qualify for their current coverage. 

To help individuals who are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage, the federal government has authorized a Special Enrollment Period for the Health Insurance Marketplace. Individuals who lose their coverage through Medicaid and CHIP any time between March 31, 2023, and July 31, 2024, will be eligible for a marketplace special enrollment period. After a person is determined eligible for the marketplace, they will have 60 days to choose a plan, and their coverage will start the first day of the month after the plan is selected.  

Many enrollees can find plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace that cost less than $10 a month. Plans cover services like prescription drugs, doctor visits, urgent care, hospital visits, and more. 

Assistance enrolling in the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace is available from certified Health Insurance Marketplace Navigator teams at Westside Family Healthcare and Quality Insights. To be connected to a trained Navigator, call:  

• Westside Family Healthcare: New Castle County: 302-472-8655, Kent or Sussex counties: 302-678-2205 
• Quality Insights: 1-844-238-1189 

For more information, visit de.gov/medicaidrenewals. 

-30-

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 27, 2023) – With more choice in plans than ever before, enhanced federal subsidies, and Delaware’s reinsurance program keeping the cost of monthly premiums relatively steady, enrollment on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace for 2023 again set an all-time high, increasing 8% over the open enrollment total for 2022.

During Delaware’s 10th open enrollment period, which began on Nov. 1, 2022, and ended Jan. 15, 2023, a total of 34,742 Delawareans enrolled for health insurance on HealthCare.gov. During the previous year, sign-ups during the open enrollment period totaled 32,113. For those who enrolled by Dec. 15, 2022, and paid their first premium, coverage began Jan. 1, 2023. For those who enrolled by Jan. 15, 2023, and paid their first premium, coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2023.

“All Delaware families need access to affordable, quality health care,” said Governor John Carney. “This year, we celebrated the 10th year of open enrollment on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace with more plans to choose from, helping to make coverage even more affordable. With record-breaking enrollment numbers, we know Delawareans are prioritizing their health. Thank you to all the community navigators and health advocates who helped us reach this milestone.”

“Marketplace plans play a crucial role in improving access to high-quality and affordable health care,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik. “I am thrilled to see a record number of Delawareans taking advantage of the many affordable options offered through Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace, and we are grateful to the community navigators and application counselors who worked hard during open enrollment to help individuals and families find the plan that was right for them.”

This year, Delawareans were able to choose from three insurers, compared to only one last year, and a total of 30 plans, the highest total in the 10 years of the marketplace. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced in June 2022 that two new insurers – AmeriHealth Caritas (four plans) and Aetna CVS Health (nine plans) – would join Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware (17 plan options) in offering coverage on the marketplace for 2023.

All plans offer essential health benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control and breastfeeding coverage, and COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated bivalent booster. In addition, coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status, including diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19.

“Judging from the final enrollment numbers, it is clear that Delaware consumers appreciate being able to choose from a variety of plans at prices that are affordable,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “Affordable, high quality health care is critical to Delaware consumers, and market stability and increased competition are key to helping provide consumer-friendly health insurance options in Delaware.”

The overall stability of Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace reflects continued federal approval of Delaware’s reinsurance program. The program has lowered health insurance premiums for plans sold in the individual insurance market by partially reimbursing insurers for high-cost health care claims through a fund that uses a mix of federal funding and assessments collected by the Delaware Department of Insurance from health insurance carriers. Because the insurers’ claims costs are lower, the insurers can reduce the cost of premiums or limit increases.

In 2021, the Biden administration made expanding access to health insurance and affordability a priority through the American Rescue Plan Act, which increased tax credits and expanded subsidies into the middle class. This year, the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act continued those enhanced benefits through 2025. For instance, a family of four (both parents in their 40s) making $50,000 are eligible for a credit of roughly $16,000, compared with $14,300 previously.

“Over a decade ago, when crafting the Affordable Care Act, we had one goal in mind: to make affordable, quality health care available to all Americans – and the marketplaces were vital to reaching that goal,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Now, we are seeing enrollment numbers go up year after year, and more Delawareans are able to get preventative screenings at no cost and get access to health care services previously not afforded to them. I thank the hard-working navigators for their work enrolling uninsured Delawareans in plans that work best for their families, and I look forward to continuing our work to drive down health care costs for all Americans.”

“Over the past decade, the Affordable Care Act has made affordable, quality health care coverage a reality for millions of Americans,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “I’m proud to have worked with President Biden and my colleagues to strengthen the ACA in the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act, further driving down costs for families, and am excited to see record numbers of Delawareans benefitting from this landmark legislation this year.”

“Ensuring that Delawareans have accessible, affordable, high-quality health care is critical to the health and well-being of communities across the First State,” said U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester. “I am encouraged to see that this year a record number of Delawareans signed up for health care coverage through Delaware’s marketplace. This would not have been possible without the hard work of DHSS, Insurance Commissioner Navarro, and Community Navigators such as Westside Family Healthcare and Quality Insights that were on the ground guiding Delawareans and providing the resources they needed to find plans that fit them and their families best. I am grateful to be a partner in keeping Delaware healthy and remain as committed as ever in advocating for more affordable, accessible, high-quality health care for Delawareans in the 118th Congress.”

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare (statewide) and Quality

Insights, Inc., (New Castle and Sussex counties) and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. Westside and Quality Insights each received increased federal funding for navigators to help people enroll for coverage.

“As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Westside understands how health insurance coverage reduces barriers to routine care and can save lives” said Lolita Lopez, President & CEO of Westside Family Healthcare. “Westside has provided enrollment assistance in the Health Insurance Marketplace since 2013, and we are thrilled with the record-breaking results during this open enrollment period. We commend the work of our state partners to reduce premium costs making coverage on the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace more affordable than ever before.”

“We are very pleased to see a continued increase in those taking advantage of the affordable coverage offered through the Marketplace,” said Shanen Wright, Program Director of Quality Insights’ Navigator program. “And although 2023 open enrollment has concluded, we are available year-around to help Delaware residents learn more about their coverage options for 2024, or to enroll this year for those who become newly eligible through a qualifying event. We encourage anyone in need of information or assistance to reach out at qualityinsights.org/navigator or 1-844-238-1189.”

With the end of open enrollment on the health insurance marketplace, Delawareans can enroll for coverage if they experience a life event that qualifies them for a special enrollment period. Among the many qualifying life events are birth or adoption of a child, a permanent move, loss of other coverage through a job, and marriage or divorce. Visit HealthCare.gov/screener to see if you qualify.

In addition to the health insurance marketplace, some Delawareans might be eligible for coverage through Delaware’s Medicaid program, which is open year-round. To be screened for eligibility or to apply for Medicaid benefits, go to Delaware ASSIST.