Delaware Medicaid Income Limits 2026: DSHP and DHCP

Health coverage through Medicaid is free to apply for and isn't counted as cash income. For other states' figures, start with our national Medicaid income limits guide.

Delaware Medicaid Income Limits by Household Size (2026)

Delaware publishes 5 MAGI percentage columns, and unlike Maryland or Pennsylvania it prints them without the 5% disregard added. According to DMMA Administrative Notice A-03-2026, the limits took effect January 1, 2026 for parents, pregnant women, infants, children, adults and the Delaware Healthy Children Program.

Source: DMMA Administrative Notice A-03-2026 (opens in a new tab) and the matching DMMA income limits page (opens in a new tab). DMMA's charts run to a household of 10; for larger families, the notice says to add $5,680 a year per person to the 100% figure before applying the percentage. \The disregard column is Grantsights' sum of DMMA's 133% figure and DMMA's own 5% disregard table ($67 for one person, $90 for two, $114 for three, $138 for four, $161 for five, $185 for six, $209 for seven, $232 for eight). DMMA applies the disregard only when someone is over income under the highest MAGI standard available to them. The DHCP chart lists $3,824 for a household of two, $2 above the FPL chart.*

Yearly figures

Using the 2026 HHS guideline, the 138% adult ceiling works out to $22,025 a year for one person and $45,540 for four, and the 212% pregnancy and DHCP line to $57,918 for three and $69,960 for four. Grantsights calculated these from the HHS guideline ($15,960 for one, $27,320 for three, $33,000 for four) because DMMA publishes only monthly limits above 100%.

Medicare savings, disability and long-term care limits

People who qualify through age, blindness or disability don't use the MAGI chart. The DMMA income limits page lists separate standards for these groups.

Sources: DMMA income limits page (opens in a new tab), A-03-2026 (opens in a new tab) and long-term care page (opens in a new tab).

DMMA's income page also lists the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program and QDWI at 200% of poverty ($2,660 for one person) and the Chronic Renal Disease Program at 300% ($3,990).

How Delaware Counts Your Income

Delaware runs 2 income systems side by side. Which one you're tested under depends on the group you qualify through.

MAGI rules apply to parents, pregnant women, infants, children, adults and DHCP. Countable income follows federal tax rules: wages, net self-employment income, unemployment pay and taxable Social Security benefits count; child support received and SSI don't. The household is built from your tax return, so it's usually you, a spouse and your tax dependents. A pregnant woman counts as two, or more for twins or triplets. There's no asset test in the MAGI groups.

The 5% disregard works differently in Delaware than the chart suggests. DMMA's notice says the disregard is used only for someone who's over income under the highest MAGI standard available to them. In practice that means an adult who's $60 over the 133% line isn't actually over, because DMMA subtracts $67 first for a one-person household.

Non-MAGI rules apply to SSI-related groups, Medicare savings programs, workers with disabilities and long-term care. These follow SSI-style counting and include asset limits.

For example, a family of three in Delaware earning $3,100 a month gross, a father with a 4-year-old and an 8-year-old, comes out better than the chart first suggests. The father is specifically $72 over the $3,028 adult line for three, but the $114 disregard brings his countable income to $2,986, under the limit, so he qualifies. The 4-year-old qualifies under the $3,233 limit for ages 1 to 5, and the 8-year-old qualifies the same way the father does. Had the family earned $3,300, the father would be out and the 8-year-old would move to DHCP (limit $4,827), while the 4-year-old would still qualify for Medicaid, because $3,300 minus the $114 disregard is $3,186, under the $3,233 line for ages 1 to 5.

Delaware Medicaid Asset Limits

$2,000 is the asset limit for a nursing facility applicant without a spouse, according to the DMMA long-term care page. Adults, parents, children, pregnant women and DHCP families on MAGI coverage don't have an asset test.

A few more rules matter for older Delawareans:

• Miller Trusts. An applicant whose income is over the $2,485 cap must set up a Miller Trust (a qualified income trust) to qualify, the DMMA long-term care page says.
• Personal needs allowance. A nursing facility resident keeps $75 a month for personal needs, and most of the rest of their income goes toward the cost of care.
• Renewals without an asset recheck. A final DMMA order in the January 2026 Delaware Register made it permanent that some groups with an asset limit, including long-term care, don't have their resources rechecked at renewal, effective July 1, 2025.
• Look-back and transfers. Giving away money or property for less than fair market value can delay nursing home coverage, so it's worth talking with a legal aid office or an elder law attorney before moving assets.

Expansion vs Non-Expansion: Delaware's Position in 2026

Delaware expanded Medicaid, so 133% of poverty, plus the disregard, covers adults 19 to 64 whether or not they're raising children. The Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (opens in a new tab) (as of December 1, 2023) lists Delaware at 133% for expansion adults, 87% for parents and caretakers, 212% for pregnant women and infants, 142% for children 1 to 5, 133% for ages 6 to 18 and 212% for separate CHIP. Those match DMMA's 2026 notice. Neighboring guides for Pennsylvania and Maryland cover two expansion neighbors with higher children's limits, and our Texas Medicaid income limits guide shows the adult coverage gap in a state that didn't expand.

According to the Diamond State Health Plan program page at DMMA (opens in a new tab), DSHP runs under a Section 1115 waiver that CMS extended through December 31, 2028, with care delivered through AmeriHealth Caritas, Delaware First Health and Highmark Health Options.

What changes on January 1, 2027. According to the Medicaid ENGAGE program page DMMA runs, the 2025 federal law brings these changes for the adult expansion group:

• Work and community engagement: earn at least $580 a month or complete 80 hours a month of work, volunteering, community service, a work program, part-time school or job training. DMMA says new applicants will need to show they met the rule for at least one month before applying.
• Exemptions include parents, guardians or caretakers of a child 13 or younger; family caregivers of a person with a disability; pregnant and postpartum members; former foster youth under 26; tribal members; veterans with a 100% disability rating; people with serious health needs certified by a doctor; people meeting SNAP or TANF work rules; people in drug or alcohol treatment; and people released from jail in the last 90 days.
• Six-month renewals replace annual renewals for the same group.

Already in effect: since October 1, 2026, DMMA says full Medicaid for noncitizen adults is limited to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants. Groups like asylees, most refugees, parolees and trafficking survivors lose full coverage. Pregnant women and children may still qualify under Delaware's CHIPRA 214 option. The income charts themselves didn't change.

What DMMA Doesn't Tell You About Delaware's Income Limits

Grantsights found 5 gaps between the way DMMA publishes its limits and the way they work for a household:

1. The parent line is a decoy for most families. Grantsights analysis of the 2026 notice shows the adult group allows $1,047 more a month than the parent group for a household of three ($3,028 vs $1,981). A parent who stops reading at 87% will wrongly assume they don't qualify.
2. The chart understates the real limit. Because DMMA prints the 133% figure without the disregard, a one-person household between $1,769 and $1,836 looks ineligible on paper and isn't. In Grantsights' view, it's the easiest gap to miss when checking eligibility at home.
3. School-age kids lose Medicaid sooner than toddlers. A 4-year-old qualifies up to 142%, a 7-year-old only to 133%. Siblings in one family can end up split between Medicaid and DHCP, which is fine: DHCP has no premium since July 1, 2024.
4. DHCP is the bigger safety net for children. According to the Delaware Healthy Children Program chart in A-03-2026, a family of four qualifies up to $5,830 a month. Grantsights analysis of that chart found the free children's program reaches $2,172 a month above the $3,658 Medicaid line for a school-age child in the same family. Many families underestimate how far that stretches.
5. The nursing home cap is lower than in most states. Delaware uses 250% of the SSI standard ($2,485), while many states use 300% ($2,982 in 2026), a gap of $497 a month. As of Grantsights' check, the Delaware General Assembly site listed Senate Joint Resolution 5 (opens in a new tab), which would direct DHSS to seek 300%, as awaiting consideration in the Senate Finance Committee. Until that changes, a Miller Trust is the route for anyone in between.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags

These are the errors that trip people up most often in Delaware:

• Comparing take-home pay. DMMA's limits are countable gross income. Payroll taxes don't come off; pre-tax health and retirement contributions do.
• Forgetting the disregard. A common mistake is giving up at the 133% figure when the disregard would have covered the gap.
• Counting a pregnancy as one person. DMMA counts a pregnant woman as at least two.
• Missing the asset recheck change. Some long-term care members won't have to prove assets again at renewal, but income still gets checked.
• Paying a "Medicaid service." Applying through ASSIST or a State Service Center is free. A red flag is anyone who charges a fee, asks for gift cards, or wants your bank login to submit an application for you. Report suspected Medicaid fraud to DMMA at 1-800-372-2022.
• Letting a renewal lapse. From 2027, expansion adults renew twice a year. DMMA warns that missing information can cost you benefits even if you still qualify.

How to Apply for Delaware Medicaid and How Long It Takes

Federal Medicaid rules at 42 CFR 435.912 (opens in a new tab) give a state 45 days to decide most applications and 90 days when the application is based on disability. DMMA doesn't publish a faster target, so expect a decision inside that window and respond quickly to any request for documents.

1. Online: through ASSIST (opens in a new tab), which also lets you check eligibility first, or the MyDEMedicalAssistance app for managing coverage.
2. By phone: Medicaid Customer Relations at 1-866-843-7212 or 302-571-4900, according to the DMMA contact page (opens in a new tab). Nursing home and community-based long-term care applications go to the Central Intake Unit at 1-866-940-8963.
3. In person: at a State Service Center in Newark, Wilmington, Dover, Milford, Smyrna or Georgetown, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Bring pay stubs or a tax return, Social Security numbers, and proof of identity and immigration status. For nursing home applications, add bank, insurance and property records. If you also need food help, our Delaware food stamps guide covers SNAP.

What to Do If You're Denied

You have 90 days from the effective date of the action to request a fair hearing, under Section 5305 of the Delaware Social Services Manual (opens in a new tab). The hearing officer can't extend that deadline. If your request arrives during the 10-day timely notice period before a cut or closure takes effect, DSSM 5308 says benefits continue until the hearing decision.

Start with the reason code on the notice. Income denials often come from a missed disregard, a wrong household size or an old pay stub. A legal aid office, such as Community Legal Aid Society, may be able to help with a hearing at no cost.

If You're Over the Delaware Medicaid Limit

Being over the adult line by $100 still leaves at least 6 routes to check, and for families the strongest one is usually DHCP for the children.

• Marketplace coverage: adults over 138% can buy a plan with premium tax credits; HealthCare.gov's savings page (opens in a new tab) explains how the credits are figured, and losing Medicaid opens a special enrollment period.
• DHCP: free for children up to 212% of poverty.
• Medicare savings programs: QMB, SLMB and QI-1 cover Medicare costs up to $1,796 a month for one person.
• Medicaid for Workers with Disabilities: income up to 275% of poverty ($3,658 for one person).
• Delaware Prescription Assistance Program: help with drug costs for older or disabled residents up to 200% of poverty.
• WIC for pregnant women and young children up to 185% of poverty: see our WIC income limits guide.

Delawareans on a fixed income can compare cash and service help in our SSI income limits guide and help for seniors programs guide. Our federal poverty guidelines guide converts any of DMMA's percentages to dollars for your family size, and the LIHEAP income limits guide covers energy bills. Grantsights' free eligibility checker can point you to official programs for rent, utilities and other needs; it doesn't decide Medicaid eligibility or submit an application, it shows you where to apply.

FAQ: Delaware Medicaid Income Limits

What is the income limit for Delaware Medicaid in 2026?

$1,769 a month for one adult at 133%, about $1,836 with the 5% disregard.

What is the Delaware Medicaid income limit for parents?

87% of poverty ($1,981 for three), but most parents qualify through the adult group.

What is the Delaware Medicaid income limit for pregnant women?

$3,822 a month for a household of two and $4,827 for three.

What is the Delaware Healthy Children Program income limit?

212% of poverty, $5,830 a month for four, with no premium.

What is the income limit for nursing home Medicaid in Delaware?

$2,485 a month and $2,000 in assets, with a Miller Trust above the cap.

Is Diamond State Health Plan the same as Delaware Medicaid?

Yes; DSHP is the name of Delaware's Medicaid managed care program.

When do Delaware Medicaid work requirements start?

January 1, 2027, for non-exempt expansion adults.

How long do I have to appeal a Delaware Medicaid decision?

90 days from the effective date; within the 10-day notice period to keep benefits.

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Sources

1. DMMA: Administrative Notice A-03-2026, 2026 Federal Poverty and Medicaid Assistance Levels (opens in a new tab), February 4, 2026, limits effective January 1, 2026
2. DMMA: Medicaid Income Limits (opens in a new tab) - FPL, Medicare savings, MWD, DHCP and SSI standards
3. DMMA: Long Term Care Medicaid (opens in a new tab) - 250% of SSI cap, $2,000 asset limit, Miller Trust, personal needs allowance
4. DMMA: Diamond State Health Plan (opens in a new tab)
5. DMMA: Medicaid ENGAGE (opens in a new tab) - work requirements, six-month renewals and October 1, 2026 noncitizen changes
6. DMMA: Contact Information (opens in a new tab)
7. Delaware Register: Final Order, 20000 Medicaid Long Term Care (opens in a new tab), January 2026
8. Delaware Social Services Manual 5000: Fair Hearing Practice and Procedures (opens in a new tab)
9. Delaware General Assembly: Senate Joint Resolution 5 (opens in a new tab)
10. 42 CFR 435.912, Timely determination of eligibility (opens in a new tab) (Cornell Legal Information Institute text)
11. Medicaid.gov eligibility levels table (December 2023 data), used here for Delaware (opens in a new tab), as of December 1, 2023
12. HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)