Best Health Insurance in Delaware (2026)

AmeriHealth is the best health insurance company in Delaware for 2026, followed by Ambetter and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Compare Delaware health insurance plans to find the best option.

Updated: May 7, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Key Takeaways

AmeriHealth ranks as the top HMO health insurance option in Delaware, offering a well-rounded mix of affordable monthly premiums, manageable deductibles, and reasonable maximum out-of-pocket limits across its plan lineup.

Ambetter also offers the cheapest health insurance in Delaware while maintaining excellent deductible and out-of-pocket cost protection for members.

Compare quotes from at least three Delaware providers to find coverage matching your needs and budget.

Delaware's ACA Marketplace has three insurers for 2026: AmeriHealth, Ambetter and Blue Cross Blue Shield. That limited field simplifies comparison shopping but removes the competitive pressure that drives down premiums in larger state markets. In our analysis of Silver-tier plans for 40-year-olds, the cheapest option (Ambetter at $719 monthly) and the most expensive (Blue Cross Blue Shield at $849 monthly) are $130 apart. That $130 gap is also the only meaningful premium spread available to Delaware shoppers.

Delaware is one of only a handful of states where plan-type choice eliminates carrier competition entirely: if you want a PPO, you have one option; if you want an HMO, you have one option. That structural constraint makes comparing across plan types more important than comparing within them.

One pattern in our Delaware data surprised us: all three insurers apply almost the identical age-based premium increase between age 40 and age 60. Ambetter, AmeriHealth and Blue Cross Blue Shield each raise Silver-tier premiums by 112% over that 20-year span. That uniformity means age-based rate shopping won't produce savings in Delaware the way it might in larger state markets with more carriers.

Best Health Insurance Companies in Delaware

There are only three health insurance companies available in the Delaware's ACA Marketplace. AmeriHealth is the best health insurance in Delaware for HMO plans. Ambetter offers the best EPO plans in the state, while Blue Cross Blue Shield provides the best PPO plans.


Ambetter	$719	$5,386	$3,324	5	Standard Silver	EPO Plans
AmeriHealth	$764	$5,898	$2,190	5	Amerihealth Caritas Next Silver Signature + No Referrals	HMO Plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield	$849	$5,814	$3,100	5	My Blue Access Select PPO Standard Silver 6000	PPO Plans

*Our picks are the best health insurance options for 40-year-olds shopping for Silver-tier plan.

AmeriHealth

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$764
Average MOOP
$5,898
Average Deductible
$2,190

pros
- Gold plans feature low $1,106 deductibles for better upfront coverage
- Offers comprehensive plan options across Bronze through Gold tiers
cons
- Limited to HMO network structures only
- Bronze plans carry high $7,950 deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums
AmeriHealth is Delaware's only HMO option. When we analyzed tier pricing across all three Delaware insurers, AmeriHealth's Gold-to-Silver relationship was the finding we didn't expect to see. The Gold-tier plan at $752 monthly costs less than the Silver-tier plan at $764, while cutting the deductible from $2,190 to $1,106. That's $12 less per month for a deductible that's $1,084 lower. For anyone who visits a doctor more than a few times a year, the Gold-tier plan is the better financial choice at essentially the same monthly cost.
AmeriHealth's HMO structure requires a primary care referral before seeing most specialists. Shoppers who see multiple specialists regularly, or who want direct access to out-of-network providers, will pay more out of pocket for those visits. AmeriHealth also has no Platinum-tier or EPO options. For the lowest possible deductible at a predictable premium, Blue Cross Blue Shield's Platinum-tier plan at $1,018 monthly with a $0 deductible is the alternative worth checking first.
AmeriHealth Delaware health insurance plans for 2026:
Data filtered by:
Metal Level
Bronze
Amerihealth Caritas Next Bronze Essential + No Referrals $542 HMO Bronze $7,950 $7,950 Yes


Amerihealth Caritas Next Bronze Essential + No Referrals	$542	HMO	Bronze	$7,950	$7,950	Yes

Ambetter

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$719
Average MOOP
$5,386
Average Deductible
$3,324

pros
- Below state average monthly premiums
- Small premium gap ($47 monthly) between Silver and Gold tiers
cons
- EPO plans only
- No Platinum-tier plans
Ambetter offers EPO plans across Expanded Bronze, Silver-tier and Gold-tier options, and is the only insurer in Delaware's marketplace where Gold-tier costs more than Silver-tier. At $47 more per month, Ambetter Gold cuts the deductible from $3,324 to $1,163. For a 40-year-old who expects more than two or three medical visits a year, the $564 annual premium increase is likely recovered in lower cost-sharing within the first major claim.

That trade-off shifts for healthy shoppers buying primarily for catastrophic financial protection. In that case, Ambetter's Silver-tier plan at $719 monthly and a below-state-average MOOP of $5,386 provides adequate coverage at a lower ongoing cost. Ambetter also has HSA-eligible plans at the Expanded Bronze tier, though no Platinum-tier options are available in Delaware.
Ambetter's EPO structure covers no out-of-network care except in emergencies. That's a real constraint for Delaware residents who receive regular care from providers in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, where cross-border visits are common in the northern part of the state. Shoppers who travel frequently or split time between states should weigh Blue Cross Blue Shield's PPO network, which covers out-of-network visits even though it costs $130 more per month at the Silver tier.

Delaware health insurance plans from Ambetter.:

Data filtered by:


Standard Silver	$685	EPO	Silver	$5,686	$3,100	No
Focused Silver	$692	EPO	Silver	$5,321	$3,436	No
Focused Silver + Vision + Adult Dental	$718	EPO	Silver	$5,321	$3,436	No
Elite Silver	$736	EPO	Silver	$5,300	No Data	No
Elite Silver + Vision + Adult Dental	$764	EPO	Silver	$5,300	No Data	No

Blue Cross Blue Shield

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Deductible

5/5MOOP

Average Monthly Rate
$849
Average MOOP
$5,814
Average Deductible
$3,100

pros
- Gold plans cost less than Silver plans while providing better coverage
- HSA-eligible plans
- Catastrophic and Platinum tier options available
cons
- PPO plans only
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) provides PPO coverage across Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum metal tiers. At age 40, you'll pay $849 monthly for Silver plans with $3,100 deductibles and $5,814 MOOP. Gold coverage runs $788 monthly with $1,283 deductibles, while platinum plans cost $1,018 monthly with $0 deductibles and $3,863 MOOP.

Blue Cross Blue Shield's Silver-tier premiums are $849 monthly at age 40 and $1,803 at age 60, a 112% increase. That rate of increase matches all three Delaware insurers: Ambetter's Silver-tier EPO rises from $719 to $1,527 and AmeriHealth's Silver-tier HMO rises from $764 to $1,623, both also 112% increases. At age 60, BCBS's PPO Silver is the most expensive option in Delaware by $276 per month. For older Delaware residents, Ambetter's $1,527 rate is the lower-cost option even with EPO network restrictions. BCBS offers HSA-compatible options for pairing high-deductible health plans with tax-advantaged savings.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is Delaware's only PPO option, but the premium difference is real. At $849 monthly for Silver-tier coverage, it costs $130 more per month than Ambetter and $85 more than AmeriHealth for the same tier. That's $1,020 to $1,560 more annually in premiums before a single claim. For healthy shoppers who rarely use out-of-network providers, Ambetter's Silver-tier EPO plan with its lower MOOP of $5,386 versus BCBS's $5,814 limits total annual cost exposure more effectively.
Blue Cross Blue Shield options in Delaware:
Data filtered by:
Metal Level
Catastrophic
My Blue Access Major Events Select Ppo Catastrophic 10600 - 3 Free Pcp Visits $468 PPO Catastrophic $10,600 $10,600 Yes


My Blue Access Major Events Select Ppo Catastrophic 10600 - 3 Free Pcp Visits	$468	PPO	Catastrophic	$10,600	$10,600	Yes

Which Is the Best Health Insurance in Delaware by Age and Plan Type?

Delaware health insurance costs differ based on your age, plan type and coverage level. Silver-tier premiums range from $514 to $1,803 monthly across the state's three main providers.

By Age:

Teens (18): Ambetter EPO plans cost $514 monthly, AmeriHealth HMO plans cost $546 and Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans cost $607.
Young adults (26): Ambetter charges $576 monthly for EPO coverage, AmeriHealth HMO plans run $612, while Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO coverage costs $680.
Adults (40): Ambetter EPO plans cost $719 monthly, AmeriHealth HMO plans cost $764 and Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans cost $849.
Seniors (60): Ambetter charges $1,527 monthly for EPO plans, AmeriHealth charges $1,623 for HMO coverage and Blue Cross Blue Shield charges $1,803 for PPO plans.

The most useful comparison across age groups is the rate gap at age 60. Ambetter's EPO Silver-tier plan, the cheapest option at age 40, stays cheapest at age 60 by $96 per month versus AmeriHealth and $276 per month versus Blue Cross Blue Shield. For older Delaware residents, that spread is worth weighing even if EPO network restrictions are a drawback.

By Plan Type:

PPO: Blue Cross Blue Shield is Delaware's only PPO provider, charging 40-year-olds $849 monthly with a $3,100 deductible and $5,814 MOOP.
HMO: AmeriHealth offers HMO coverage for 40-year-olds at $764 monthly with a $2,190 deductible and $5,898 MOOP.
EPO: Ambetter charges 40-year-olds $719 monthly with a $3,324 deductible and $5,386 MOOP.

All rates are averages based on Silver plans for the given category.

Compare Delaware Health Insurance Providers

Delaware health insurance premiums, deductibles and MOOP costs vary by insurer. Filter results by age, metal level, plan type and HSA eligibility below.

Data filtered by:


AmeriHealth	$764	HMO	Silver	$5,898	$2,190	40	No

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Delaware

Choosing health insurance in Delaware means weighing premiums against deductibles, network access and coverage limits.

1
Assess your health care needs
Your past medical expenses are the most reliable guide to your deductible choice. In our Delaware data, the $1,084 deductible difference between AmeriHealth's Silver-tier and Gold-tier plans costs only $12 more per month. For any shopper who visited a doctor four or more times last year, the Gold-tier deductible structure almost certainly pays off. Delaware residents should also check whether their current providers accept HMO referral requirements before ruling out AmeriHealth entirely.
2
Compare multiple insurer quotes
Request rates from all three Delaware marketplace insurers before enrolling. The spread between the cheapest Silver-tier option (Ambetter at $719) and the most expensive (Blue Cross Blue Shield at $849) is $130 per month or $1,560 per year for the same metal tier. That gap is the full range available to most Delaware shoppers, so comparing all three in a single session takes less than 30 minutes and captures the entire market.
3
Verify provider networks
Check that your preferred doctors, specialists and hospitals accept plans you're considering. Out-of-network care costs more and may require full payment upfront. Delaware residents should confirm their providers participate in networks, especially if they receive care in New Castle County or Kent County medical facilities.
4
Review cost-sharing details
In Delaware's marketplace, the deductible-to-premium trade-off is unusually clear. Ambetter's Gold-tier plan costs $47 more per month than its Silver-tier plan but cuts the deductible by $2,161. Blue Cross Blue Shield's Gold-tier plan at $774 monthly actually costs less than its Silver-tier plan at $849, while dropping the deductible from $3,100 to $1,283. For any shopper anticipating more than two medical events in a year, the Gold-tier plan saves money at both Ambetter and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
5
Evaluate plan types
HMOs, PPOs, EPOs and POS plans each offer different trade-offs. HMOs require referrals but cost less, while PPOs offer flexibility to see specialists without approval at higher premiums. EPOs and POS plans fall between these options, providing moderate flexibility and costs.

Delaware's three-insurer market means plan type is a more consequential choice than in most states. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the only PPO option. AmeriHealth is the only HMO option. That removes head-to-head rate competition within each plan type. In our analysis, Ambetter's EPO plans offer the best deductible-to-premium ratio for Silver-tier coverage, but only if the EPO's in-network restriction doesn't conflict with your current providers.
6
Explore federal programs
Federal premium tax credits reduce monthly costs for Delaware residents whose household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. For a single adult in 2026, that range runs from roughly $14,580 to $58,320. Credits apply only to marketplace plans on HealthCare.gov, not to employer coverage. Delaware residents 65 or older, or those with qualifying disabilities, can review Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement options through the same portal.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Delaware?

HMO plans provide the most affordable Bronze coverage in Delaware at $542 monthly and Gold-tier coverage at $752. EPO plans offer the cheapest Silver coverage at $719, while PPO plans cost the most across available tiers, with Silver at $849 and Gold at $774.

PPO plans are the only option for Platinum coverage at $1,018 monthly. EPO plans cost less than PPOs across every available tier while offering more network flexibility than HMOs. POS plans are not available in Delaware, leaving consumers to choose between HMO, EPO or PPO options.


EPO	No Data	$719	$766	No Data
HMO	$542	$764	$752	No Data
PPO	No Data	$849	$774	$1,018

*Rates are averages for 40-year-olds in Delaware. Your rates will vary based on your age and location.

The most useful numbers in this table aren't in the Silver row. Both AmeriHealth and Blue Cross Blue Shield price their Gold-tier plans below their Silver-tier plans: AmeriHealth HMO Gold at $752 versus Silver at $764, and Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Gold at $774 versus Silver at $849. Ambetter is the only insurer where Gold costs more than Silver. For HMO and PPO shoppers, the Gold-tier plan is the default better choice unless the higher deductible at Silver is the explicit goal.

Which Delaware Health Insurance Plan Is Right for You?

Your best option depends on three factors: how often you use health care, whether your doctors accept network restrictions and whether you need PPO flexibility.

If you visit a doctor four or more times a year, AmeriHealth's Gold-tier HMO at $752 monthly is the highest-value plan in Delaware. The $1,106 deductible is $1,084 lower than AmeriHealth Silver, and the monthly premium is $12 lower. The trade-off is the HMO referral requirement for specialist visits.

If you want the lowest monthly premium, Ambetter's Silver-tier EPO at $719 monthly has the lowest average rate in the state. Its MOOP of $5,386 is also below the state average. The restriction is no out-of-network coverage outside of emergencies, which matters if you receive care in Pennsylvania or New Jersey.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the right choice only if PPO access is a requirement: either because your providers don't participate in HMO or EPO networks, or because you need coverage across state lines. At $849 monthly for Silver-tier, you pay $130 to $276 more per month than the alternatives for that flexibility.

Best Health Insurance in Delaware: Bottom Line

In our analysis of Delaware's 2026 marketplace, the most overlooked finding is AmeriHealth's Gold-tier pricing. At $752 monthly versus $764 for Silver-tier, you get a $1,106 deductible instead of a $2,190 deductible for $12 less per month. For most Delaware residents who use their coverage regularly, that's the highest-value plan in the state.

Ambetter earns the affordability ranking but its EPO network limits are real. Blue Cross Blue Shield is worth its premium only if you genuinely need PPO access or want Platinum-tier or HSA-eligible options unavailable elsewhere. Compare all three before enrolling.

Best Delaware Health Insurance: FAQ

Delaware residents often ask about enrollment periods, state insurance requirements and how multiple plans work together.

How do I get health insurance in Delaware?

Delaware residents can get health insurance through HealthCare.gov, directly from one of the state's three 2026 marketplace insurers (AmeriHealth, Ambetter or Blue Cross Blue Shield) or through a licensed broker. The standard open enrollment period runs from November 1 through January 15. Silver-tier premiums for a 40-year-old range from $719 to $849 monthly depending on plan type, so comparing all three options before enrolling is worth the time.

Are you required to have health insurance in Delaware?

Delaware has no state mandate requiring health insurance, so there's no penalty for going without coverage. Going uninsured does mean paying full cost for any medical care. A single Silver-tier plan in Delaware runs $719 to $849 per month for a 40-year-old, and Bronze-tier plans start at $542 monthly with AmeriHealth. For lower-income residents, federal subsidies on HealthCare.gov can reduce those costs.

Which Delaware health insurance plan has the lowest deductible?

AmeriHealth's Gold-tier HMO plan carries the lowest deductible in Delaware's 2026 marketplace at $1,106, compared to $1,163 for Ambetter Gold-tier and $1,283 for Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold-tier. All three Gold-tier plans carry lower deductibles than their Silver-tier counterparts. At $752 monthly, AmeriHealth Gold also costs $12 less per month than AmeriHealth Silver, making it the only plan in Delaware where a lower deductible costs less than the tier below it.

Does Delaware have Medicaid?

Delaware's Medicaid program, called Diamond State Health Plan, covers adults with household incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level. For 2026, that threshold is approximately $20,120 for a single adult. Residents who earn above that limit but still qualify for premium tax credits can use HealthCare.gov to compare subsidized Silver-tier plans, which in Delaware start at $719 monthly before any credit is applied. Apply for Medicaid through the Delaware ASSIST portal.

Our Review Methodology

AmeriHealth is Delaware's only HMO insurer in the 2026 marketplace. Our evaluation system focuses heavily on monthly premiums since they create the biggest ongoing financial impact for consumers. We also factor in financial protection limits and upfront costs that affect your total yearly spending.

Our Scoring System

We weighted three cost factors:

Monthly premium (60%): Lower average monthly costs earn higher scores since this payment repeats every month.
Maximum out-of-pocket (20%): Lower MOOP limits provide better financial protection and score higher.
Deductible (20%): Providers with lower average deductibles before coverage begins, receive better scores.

Scores get normalized within each filter combination. For Silver-tier HMO, EPO and PPO plans, the top performer earns 5.0 points, with other providers scored relative to that leader.

Sample Consumer Profile

MoneyGeek pulled 2026 plan-year rate data from the CMS Health Insurance Exchange for all Delaware marketplace plans in January 2026. We reviewed plans across ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60 for every available metal tier: Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Pricing throughout this page reflects 40-year-old profiles unless stated otherwise.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for almost a decade, first with LendingTree and now with MoneyGeek, conducting original research on hundreds of insurance companies and millions of insurance rates for insurance shoppers.

He writes about economics and insurance on MoneyGeek, breaking down complex topics so people can have confidence in their purchase. Like all MoneyGeek analysts, Mark collects and analyzes independent cost and consumer experience data on insurance companies to provide objective recommendations in our content that are independent of any of MoneyGeek's insurance company partnerships.

His insights on products ranging from car, home and renters insurance to health and life insurance have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among others.

Mark holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He started his career working in financial risk management at State Street before transitioning to the analysis of the personal insurance market. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Read Full Bio »

Sources

HealthCare.gov. "Health Insurance Marketplace." Accessed May 8, 2026.
Delaware Department of Insurance. "Health Insurance." Accessed May 8, 2026.

Best Health Insurance in Delaware (2026)

Best Health Insurance Companies in Delaware

AmeriHealth

Ambetter

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Which Is the Best Health Insurance in Delaware by Age and Plan Type?

Compare Delaware Health Insurance Providers

How to Choose the Best Health Insurance in Delaware

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Delaware?

Which Delaware Health Insurance Plan Is Right for You?

Best Health Insurance in Delaware: Bottom Line

Best Delaware Health Insurance: FAQ

How do I get health insurance in Delaware?

Are you required to have health insurance in Delaware?

Which Delaware health insurance plan has the lowest deductible?

Does Delaware have Medicaid?

Our Review Methodology

Related Pages

Sources