Residents of Delaware who are eligible for Medicare coverage can choose among various plan options, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug plans, and Medicare supplement insurance.

Medicare eligibility in Delaware follows the same federal guidelines as elsewhere in the country. To be eligible, a person must be at least 65 years old or living with a qualifying disability or chronic health condition.

Learn more about the options for Medicare coverage as a resident of Delaware.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the following are some key figures about Medicare in Delaware in 2025.

  • Enrollment: There are 242,207 residents of Delaware enrolled in Medicare.
  • Medicare Advantage (Part C): There are 39 Medicare Advantage plans available, compared with 35 plans in the prior year.
  • Part D: Residents of Delaware have 14 stand-alone Part D plans available to them.
  • Extra Help program: Roughly 20.47% of people enrolled in a stand-alone Part D plan get Extra Help.

Residents of Delaware have various options for Medicare coverage, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap.

Original Medicare in Delaware

Individuals eligible for Medicare may enroll in Original Medicare, which is made up of Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Together, these plans meet the bulk of a person’s healthcare needs.

Part A coverage includes:

  • inpatient hospital care
  • skilled nursing facility care
  • hospice care
  • limited home healthcare

Part B coverage includes:

  • outpatient care from doctors or other healthcare professionals
  • lab and imaging tests
  • durable medical equipment (DME)
  • preventive services

Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans include the same level of coverage as parts A and B while offering additional benefits, such as vision, dental, and hearing care. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage.

In 2025, the average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan in Delaware is $17.97. The lowest available premium is $0. There are 39 different plan options.

Some of the organizations that offer Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware include:

  • Aetna Medicare
  • AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Care (HMO-D-SNP)
  • Cigna Healthcare
  • Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Humana
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Wellcare

A person can explore Medicare Advantage coverage options by visiting the Medicare website and entering their ZIP code.

To assist people with selecting Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans, CMS assigns star ratings to all the plans in each state.

In 2025, the only Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware to receive an overall star rating of 4.5 or higher are UnitedHealthcare’s UHC Nursing Home Plan and certain plans from Aetna Medicare. Star ratings for Part C and Part D plans can be found in the CY2025 Landscape document, available on the Medicare website.

Part D in Delaware

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that individuals can purchase in addition to their Original Medicare coverage or Medicare Advantage coverage (if their plan does not include drug coverage). Private insurance companies offer these plans.

In Delaware, 14 stand-alone plans are available across the state. The exact plans offered to a person will depend on their county.

According to the health policy research group KFF, the average Part D premium cost for plans in Delaware was $44.95 in 2024.

Medicare supplement plans in Delaware

Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap plans, are offered by private insurance companies to assist with the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare. These costs include deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Medigap plans are not available to people with Medicare Advantage.

Some of the many organizations offering Medigap plans in Delaware in 2025 include:

  • AARP — UnitedHealthcare
  • Aetna Health Insurance Company
  • Allstate Health Solutions
  • BlueCross BlueShield of Delaware
  • Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company
  • Humana Achieve
  • Mutual of Omaha
  • Royal Arcanum
  • Transamerica Life Insurance Company

To explore Medigap coverage options, a person can visit the Medicare website and enter their ZIP code.

»Read more:Medigap plans

Medicare resources for residents of Delaware

For further information about Medicare plan options, coverage, and costs, consider the following resources:

  • Medicare: Contact Medicare by phone at 800-633-4227 (TTY: 877-486-2048) or online. Representatives are available 24/7 to offer support.
  • Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB): DMAB is a state program that offers free healthcare counseling to residents of the state on Medicare.
  • Social Security Administration (SSA): The SSA website has information about signing up for Medicare, applying for Extra Help, and managing benefits.

Medicare enrollment windows are the same in Delaware as in other states. These are important periods during which people can join, switch, or drop coverage:

  • Initial enrollment period: This is a 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month of a person’s 65th birthday. If a person qualifies for Medicare through age, this is their first opportunity to join a plan.
  • Open enrollment period: This is also called the annual enrollment period. From October 15 to December 7, people can switch plans or add coverage.
  • General enrollment period: Anyone who misses initial enrollment may enroll during this period.
  • Special enrollment period: Life events that affect someone’s health insurance status may trigger a special enrollment period.
  • Medicare Advantage open enrollment: From January 1 to March 31, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans can switch plans or return to Original Medicare.

In some cases, Medicare will automatically sign a person up for coverage. This can happen if they have a disability and have received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 2 years or have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

People with end stage renal disease (ESRD) also qualify for Medicare. However, they must choose whether to enroll.

People can join a plan by:

When selecting a plan, it’s important to consider factors such as:

  • Cost: Plans will have different out-of-pocket costs to consider, including monthly premiums, annual deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Some plans will have annual out-of-pocket maximums, whereas others will not.
  • Choice: While Original Medicare coverage works across the country with any provider who accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans can put restrictions on which providers members may see.
  • Coverage: Consider coverage needs when deciding on a plan. If a person needs benefits such as vision, dental, hearing, or prescription drug coverage, they may require more than Original Medicare alone.
  • Special health concerns: Certain health conditions require tailored insurance plans. A person may wish to consider a Special Needs Plan (SNP) if they have a condition such as diabetes or HIV.

Medicare in Delaware follows the same federal guidelines as elsewhere throughout the United States. Residents may enroll in Original Medicare (parts A and B) or a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

Private insurance companies offer Part C plans, and plan options vary across the state based on a person’s county of residence. An individual can also choose to add a Part D plan to cover drug costs or a Medigap plan to help with the expenses of Original Medicare.

Before picking a plan, people may consider their coverage needs, provider preferences, and cost requirements. For assistance, individuals can reach out to Medicare, the SSA, or DMAB.