Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Delaware. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
Delaware Medicaid in Delaware
Delaware Medicaid can pay health costs Medicare doesn't for people 65 and older with low income, and it covers adult dental care up to $1,000 a year.
The income limit for older adults is tied to the SSI amount. Nursing-home care has a higher income limit, and people over it may still qualify by setting up a Miller trust.
How to apply in Delaware
- By phone
- 1-866-843-7212
- In person
- At a Delaware State Service Center; the DMMA contact page lists them. For nursing-home care, call the Medicaid Central Intake Unit at 1-866-940-8963.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Delaware
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (2026) | $994 a month (the SSI amount) | $1,491 a month (the SSI amount) Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (source 1) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | No Source: KFF (source 6) |
|---|---|
| Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026) | $2,485 a month (250% of the SSI amount) Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (source 1) |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | Yes: low-income uninsured adults 19 to 65 may qualify Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (source 3) |
What you may get
| Adult dental | Exams, cleanings, fillings and other preventive and restorative care, up to $1,000 a year for adults 21 and older, plus up to $1,500 more for emergency or extra care when medically necessary. People with both Medicare and full Medicaid get it; people with only QMB or SLMB don't. |
|---|
Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (source 4)
How Delaware is different
Where Delaware's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- Adult dental covered, up to $1,000 a year
- Lower nursing-home income limit than most states: 250% of the SSI amount, not 300%
Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (source 4)
Good to know
- For nursing-home Medicaid, if your gross income is over the limit (250% of the SSI amount) you need to set up a Miller trust to qualify, and your savings can't be over $2,000 unless you have a spouse.
- A nursing-home resident on Medicaid keeps $75 a month for personal needs; the rest of their income goes to the facility, with some exceptions.
- For adults under 65 in the Adult Medical Expansion group, work or community engagement rules begin January 1, 2027.
Source: Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (source 2)
Free help
Free help with this in Delaware
Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Delaware
Medicaid for older adults in another state
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Sources
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, Medicaid Income Limits (2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, Long Term Care Medicaid Programs (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, Delaware Medicaid Eligibility (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, Adult Dental Services (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, Contact Information (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Medicaid Eligibility Levels for Older Adults and People with Disabilities (Non-MAGI) in 2026. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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