Medicaid in Delaware
Who Qualifies for Medicaid in Delaware?
Citizenship and Residency – To obtain full Medicaid benefits in Delaware, you must be a Delaware resident and either a U.S. citizen or a legally residing noncitizen. Full coverage for noncitizens which include DACA recipients is dependent on the availability of state funding. However, noncitizens (residing legally or illegally) can qualify for coverage for emergencies and labor & delivery services if income requirements are met.
Income Level – Qualifying for Medicaid is also based on need. Household income must be under certain limits as defined by the Federal Poverty Level and is based on family size. For Long Term Care programs, financial resources must also be under a certain amount. There are also specific programs for individuals who meet certain medical or disability tests, or who qualify due to age or pregnancy. To find out more about different Medicaid and other medical assistance programs, visit DMMA Programs & Services.
How can I find out if I can get Medicaid?
How much income can I receive and still be eligible for Medicaid?
Income is money that you get from working, or money that someone gives you, or checks that you receive, such as a Social Security check, unemployment benefits, child support, retirement benefits, or sick pay. Whether your income level qualifies you or your family for Medicaid depends on the size of your family and the Medicaid program for which you are applying.
Income limits are set each year by the federal government to define the Federal Poverty Level for different family sizes. In general, if your household income is at or below the current 100% Federal Poverty Level for your household size, your family is likely to be eligible for Medicaid. Children from age 1 to under age 6 can qualify for Medicaid benefits when household income is at or below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. Pregnant women and infants under age 1 qualify for Medicaid with family income at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Level, and pregnant women count as 2 (or more) family members.
See our tables of income limits for applying for DMMA programs to find out where your family income is, in relation to these income benchmarks.
Medical assistance programs other than Medicaid have different income level requirements. For example, uninsured children under age 19 who live in families with incomes at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Level are eligible for low cost health insurance under the Delaware Healthy Children Program.
If you need help with medical payments, you may qualify for one of many other medical assistance programs. If you don’t know which program you need, a good first step would be to call the Delaware HelpLine toll-free at 1-800-464-HELP (4357).