Free Health Insurance Delaware: Your 2027 Marketplace & Medicaid Guide
Free health insurance in Delaware isn't a gimmick — it's a premium tax credit, or it's Delaware Medicaid. Delaware uses HealthCare.gov for 2027, and open enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. Here are the 2027 income limits, Delaware's new Medicaid work rules, the approved 2027 rate changes, and how to lock in coverage by December 15.
Get a Free 2027 Quote ↓Health Insurance in Delaware for 2027: What "Free" Really Means
Quick answer: Delaware adults 19–64 earning up to about 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 for one person) may qualify for Delaware Medicaid. Above that, premium tax credits on HealthCare.gov can bring some plans to $0. Open enrollment for 2027 runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027; enroll by December 15 for January 1 coverage.
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Free health insurance Delaware residents can actually get comes from two places. The first is a premium tax credit on HealthCare.gov. CMS lists Delaware as a federally facilitated Marketplace for 2027, and the Delaware Department of Insurance calls it the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace. The second is Delaware Medicaid, the state's expanded Medicaid program, run by the Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA) in the Department of Health and Social Services. If your household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, the credit pays part or all of your monthly premium directly to the carrier, and at lower incomes that math can land on a $0-premium plan. The same rules apply statewide, from Wilmington and Newark to Dover and the Sussex County beach towns.
Here's what changed for 2027. The extra "enhanced" tax credits of 2021–2025 expired at the end of 2025, and they are not back for 2027 under current law unless Congress acts. Credits are smaller than they were in 2025, and the 400% FPL cliff is back: earn $1 over the line and your credit is $0. Premiums are rising too: the Delaware Department of Insurance approved average 2027 increases of 17.20% for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and 13.94% for AmeriHealth Caritas. And Delaware Medicaid adds a work requirement for expansion adults on January 1, 2027.
FreedInsure LLC is an independent brokerage; its licensed agent, Constantino Lardi (NPN 20230457), is licensed in 42 states, Delaware included. We calculate your exact 2027 credit, compare the plans available where you live, and enroll you — and our help is 100% free to you. We're a private broker, not HealthCare.gov and not a government agency. Call (844) 788-3733 or see if you qualify.
Delaware Health Insurance Income Limits for 2027
Marketplace savings for 2027 coverage are based on the 2026 federal poverty guidelines: $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. The IRS sets how much of your income you're expected to pay for the benchmark Silver plan, from 2.15% to 10.22% as income rises, and the tax credit covers the rest.
| 2027 Household Income | Household of 1 | Household of 4 (about) | What You Typically Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to ~138% FPL | Up to ~$22,025 | Up to ~$45,540 | Likely Delaware Medicaid for adults 19–64 (2026 guideline figures — see below); children can qualify at higher incomes |
| 138–150% FPL | $22,025–$23,940 | $45,540–$49,500 | The biggest credits — benchmark Silver capped at no more than 4.30% of income, plus a 94% CSR Silver plan ($4,000 self-only out-of-pocket max) |
| 150–200% FPL | $23,940–$31,920 | $49,500–$66,000 | Benchmark Silver at 4.30%–6.78% of income, plus an 87% CSR Silver plan ($4,000 self-only out-of-pocket max) |
| 200–250% FPL | $31,920–$39,900 | $66,000–$82,500 | Benchmark Silver at 6.78%–8.66% of income, plus a 73% CSR Silver plan ($9,600 self-only out-of-pocket max) |
| 250–400% FPL | $39,900–$63,840 | $82,500–$132,000 | Credits taper: benchmark Silver at 8.66%–10.22% of income |
| Over 400% FPL | $63,840+ | $132,000+ | No premium tax credit for 2027 under current law — full-price plans, so shopping smart matters most |
Family-of-four figures are derived from the 2026 guidelines, so treat them as approximate. Medicaid uses the current year's poverty guidelines, so Delaware's Medicaid dollar limits will update once HHS publishes the 2027 guidelines, which it normally does each January. Compare every state on our Medicaid income limits by state page.
Income means your projected 2027 household income — W-2 wages, 1099 and gig income, self-employment, everything. Getting it right matters more than ever: for tax years after 2025 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credits, so a low estimate can mean paying back the full difference at tax time. Starting January 1, 2027, federal law also limits premium tax credits to three groups of lawfully present immigrants: lawful permanent residents (green-card holders), Cuban/Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Want a number now? Try the 2027 ACA subsidy calculator or read our full ACA income limits guide.
Delaware Medicaid in 2027: Expanded, With New Rules for Adults
Delaware has expanded Medicaid. The program is run by DMMA, and most members are enrolled with one of the managed care plans under the Diamond State Health Plan. DMMA says low-income uninsured adults between the ages of 19 and 65 may qualify, and that it does not look at your resources when it decides Medicaid eligibility. Medicaid.gov lists Delaware's limit for expansion adults as 133% FPL; with the standard 5% income disregard, that works out to about 138%, or roughly $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four on the 2026 guidelines. Program details are on DMMA's eligibility page.
| Delaware Coverage Group | Income Limit (% of FPL) |
|---|---|
| Adults 19–64 (Medicaid expansion) | 133% (about 138% with the 5% disregard) |
| Pregnant women | 212% |
| Infants under age 1 | 212% |
| Children ages 1–5 | 142% |
| Children ages 6–18 | 133% |
| Delaware Healthy Children Program (CHIP), children under 19 | 212% |
These percentages come from Medicaid.gov's Medicaid and CHIP eligibility table (levels as of December 2023, before the 5% disregard); DMMA itself confirms the 212% limit for DHCP. Confirm your household's numbers with DMMA before you rely on them.
Children: the Delaware Healthy Children Program
The Delaware Healthy Children Program (DHCP) is Delaware's CHIP. DMMA says uninsured children in families with countable income at or below 212% of the poverty level are eligible — about $69,960 a year for a family of four on the 2026 guidelines. As of July 1, 2024, Delaware no longer charges DHCP premiums, and there are no copays except for non-emergency ER visits. Medicaid and DHCP accept applications year-round, with no open enrollment window.
New for 2027: Medicaid ENGAGE work requirements
DMMA says new federal Work and Community Engagement requirements begin January 1, 2027 for the Adult Medicaid Expansion group: low-income adults ages 19 through 64 who became eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. To keep coverage, you must work and earn at least $580 a month, or complete at least 80 hours a month of volunteering or community service, a work program, and/or school or job training at least part-time. The requirement does not apply to parents, guardians or caregiver relatives of a dependent child 13 and under or of an individual with disabilities, or to people who qualify for another exemption. Starting in 2027, coverage for this group will also need to be renewed every six months instead of once a year. DMMA says it is still waiting for updates from the federal government, so check its Medicaid ENGAGE page for the latest and keep your address and phone number current. For help finding work, the Delaware Department of Labor's JobLink (302-761-8085) is a starting point; for volunteer hours, try volunteer.delaware.gov.
Immigrant households: what Delaware kept
Since October 1, 2026, a narrower federal list of immigration statuses applies to adult Medicaid. Delaware has elected the federal CHIPRA 214 option, so DMMA says pregnant women and children may still qualify for full Medicaid even if their immigration status is not on that list. Refugees may get Refugee Medical Assistance for their first four months of refugee status.
How to apply for Delaware Medicaid
Apply online through Delaware ASSIST (there's also a MyDEMedicalAssistance mobile app), or call the Delaware Medicaid Customer Relations Unit at 1-866-843-7212 (TTY 711). To report a change, call the Change Report Center at 302-571-4900, option 2.
Straight talk: Delaware Medicaid is a state program, not something we sell. If it's your best option, we'll tell you exactly that and point you to the application — no charge, no strings. And if your income sits above the Medicaid line, that's precisely where marketplace credits take over, and where a side-by-side comparison of your plan options matters most.
Income near the line? Delawareans with seasonal work, gig income, or variable hours can move between Medicaid and the marketplace from year to year. In most cases, losing Medicaid eligibility opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for marketplace coverage. Don't guess at the boundary; a 10-minute call maps it.
Delaware Marketplace Plans and 2027 Rates
Delaware's marketplace runs on HealthCare.gov, and every plan sold there is ACA-compliant: the 10 essential health benefits, no pre-existing condition exclusions, and preventive care at no cost. On September 4, 2026, the Delaware Department of Insurance announced final 2027 rates. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield requested 20.20% and was approved for an average increase of 17.20% across 16 comprehensive plans and one catastrophic plan. AmeriHealth Caritas was adjusted to a final average of 13.94% across 9 plans. DOI attributes the increases to national policy changes, including H.R. 1, federal budget actions and the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits.
Your own change depends on your plan, age and location. If you get a tax credit, it's tied to the benchmark Silver premium where you live, so it generally rises when that premium does, and what you actually pay can move very differently from the headline average. Delaware also runs a state reinsurance program under a federal Section 1332 waiver that CMS has extended through December 31, 2029; the state says the program reimburses insurers for high-cost claims to help lower premiums. We confirm which 2027 plans are open to you, and check them against your doctors and prescriptions, before recommending anything. (See our carrier partners.)
🪨 Bronze
Lowest premiums — they can be $0 after credits at lower incomes — with the highest deductibles. Exchange bronze plans now count as HSA-eligible, and the 2027 HSA limit is $4,500 for self-only coverage.
🪙 Silver
The sweet spot for most subsidy-eligible households. Under ~250% FPL, Cost-Sharing Reductions can cut a 2027 out-of-pocket maximum from $12,000 to as low as $4,000 for one person.
🥇 Gold
Higher premium, lower out-of-pocket. The smart pick when you know care is coming — a planned procedure, a pregnancy, ongoing prescriptions.
🔹 Add-Ons
Dental & vision, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans stack alongside your ACA plan — often the difference between covered and comfortable.
One honest warning: a $0 premium is not $0 care. Free bronze plans carry real deductibles, and a 2027 marketplace plan can have an out-of-pocket maximum as high as $12,000 for one person. If your income is under ~250% FPL, a CSR Silver plan is often the far better deal than the "free" one. That's the judgment call a broker exists for.
Beyond marketplace plans, we also help Delawareans with term life insurance and other life insurance — all through one licensed advisor.
Obamacare Delaware Open Enrollment 2027: Key Dates
Delaware uses the federal Marketplace, so the HealthCare.gov calendar applies: Open Enrollment runs November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027. The Delaware Department of Insurance confirms that open enrollment for plan year 2027 begins on November 1. The old state site, choosehealthde.com, now redirects to HealthCare.gov, so that's where you (or your broker) enroll. You can compare every state on our 2027 open enrollment deadlines by state page.
📅 November 1, 2026
Open enrollment opens on HealthCare.gov. Compare 2027 plans, premiums, and your new credit amount.
⏰ December 15, 2026
Last day to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. Pay your first premium by your insurer's due date so coverage takes effect. This is the deadline that matters most.
🏁 January 15, 2027
Open enrollment ends. Enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage starts February 1, 2027 — a one-month gap.
🔄 After January 15
You'll need a qualifying life event (losing job coverage, losing Medicaid, moving, marriage, or a birth) to open a 60-day Special Enrollment Period.
Enrolling through FreedInsure takes about 15 minutes: (1) we project your 2027 income and calculate the exact credit, (2) we compare the plans available to you against your doctors and prescriptions, and (3) we submit the enrollment and stay on as your advisor all year. Same plans, same prices as going direct — plus a human who answers. Call (844) 788-3733. For the national picture, read our Open Enrollment 2027 guide.
Straight talk on auto-renewal: if you do nothing, most enrollees are automatically re-enrolled in the same or a similar plan. But with credits smaller and Delaware premiums rising for 2027, last year's plan at last year's assumptions can be this year's overpay. Never let a plan auto-renew without a 15-minute re-shop — and do it before December 15 so any change starts January 1.
How FreedInsure Helps
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Ready to get started? Call (844) 788-3733 or complete the form below. A licensed advisor will call within 15 minutes with personalized options. No pressure, no spam, no data selling. Just expert guidance that's 100% free.
Health Insurance Delaware FAQ: 2027 Answers
Official Sources for This Guide
- HealthCare.gov: Dates and deadlines for 2027 coverage
- Delaware Department of Insurance: Delaware Announces 2027 Marketplace Health Insurance Rates (September 4, 2026)
- Delaware DHSS, DMMA: Delaware Medicaid Eligibility
- Delaware DHSS, DMMA: Medicaid ENGAGE (work requirements and immigrant coverage)
- Delaware DHSS, DMMA: Delaware Healthy Children Program
- Medicaid.gov: Medicaid, CHIP and BHP Eligibility Levels
- CMS: States by Marketplace Type (FFM/SBM-FP/SBM) for Plan Year 2027
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26: 2027 premium tax credit applicable percentages
- CMS: 2027 maximum out-of-pocket and cost-sharing reduction limits (January 29, 2026)
- Delaware Health Care Commission: Reinsurance Program (Section 1332 waiver)
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