Delaware has only three counties, and its Medicaid program is run by one state agency: the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). Inside DHSS, the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) sets policy, contracts with health plans, and oversees benefits for children, parents, pregnant women, adults, older residents, and people with disabilities. That structure shapes what an in-person Medicaid office means here. There is no network of county-run welfare departments, as in some other states. The offices listed on this page are state-operated sites, and much of the work happens by phone, mail, and online.

How Medicaid Is Organised in Delaware: DHSS, DMMA, and the State Service Centers

Delaware is the second-smallest state by area and has about one million residents. A small state can run a single, centralised system, and Delaware does. DMMA is the division that administers Medicaid and the Delaware Healthy Children Program, which is the state's version of the Children's Health Insurance Program. DHSS also operates a statewide network of State Service Centers, where residents can apply for several kinds of help, including food benefits, cash assistance, and health coverage. The Medicaid offices in our directory sit within this larger system.

Most Delaware Medicaid members receive care through managed care. The main program is called the Diamond State Health Plan. Members choose from the managed care organizations under contract with the state and receive a member card from that plan. People who need nursing-home level care, or who qualify for home and community-based services, are generally enrolled in a related program called Diamond State Health Plan Plus, which covers long-term services and supports. Delaware operates these programs under a federal Section 1115 waiver, so some rules differ from other states.

Delaware also chose to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Since 2014, adults aged 19 to 64 with household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level have been able to qualify, even without children or a disability. Income limits change each year with federal poverty guidelines, so confirm the current figure with DHSS before you assume you do or do not qualify.

The Two Medicaid Office Listings: Milford and New Castle

Our database currently holds two Medicaid office listings in Delaware, one in each of two counties. They are far apart in character. One is in a small city in the southern half of the state, and the other is on the main state government campus in the northern, more urban part of the state.

Milford Delaware Medicaid Office, Sussex County

The Milford Delaware Medicaid Office is at 253 Northeast Front Street, Milford, and the listed phone number is 302-424-7210. Milford sits on the line between Kent and Sussex counties, and our records place this office in Sussex County. For residents of the lower part of the state, including people in rural communities along Route 113 and Route 1, a Milford location can mean a much shorter trip than going to the northern end of Delaware. Call ahead to confirm the services offered on a given day, because staffing and appointment rules at State Service Centers can change.

New Castle Delaware Medicaid Office, New Castle County

The New Castle Delaware Medicaid Office is at 1901 North Dupont Highway, New Castle, and the listed phone number is 302-255-9500. That address is the DHSS campus along the Route 13 and Route 40 corridor, which is where many state health and human services functions are concentrated. It lies in New Castle County, the most populous county in the state and home to Wilmington, Newark, and the suburbs around them. Because the campus houses a range of state programs, the staff you speak with may handle several kinds of benefits, so tell the front desk exactly what you need when you arrive.

Northern Delaware Versus the South: Why Access Looks Different

The state is small, but the gap between its northern and southern halves is real. New Castle County has the densest population, the most hospitals and clinics, and the widest choice of bus routes through DART First State. Sussex County is larger in land area, with beach resorts, poultry farms, and small towns spread over long stretches of two-lane road. Kent County, home to the capital, Dover, falls between the two, though it has no listing in our database.

For southern residents, travel time is the main challenge. Someone in Georgetown, Laurel, Seaford, or Millsboro may find Milford the closest listed option, and some will not have a car at all. Delaware Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation for eligible members who have no other way to reach an appointment, and it is arranged through the program rather than through the office window. Check your member materials or call your health plan to learn how to request a ride, and do it several days ahead of time.

In the north, the challenge is usually crowding and wait times rather than distance. Arriving early, avoiding the first and last days of the month, and bringing every document in one folder can all shorten a visit. If you can resolve an issue by phone or online instead, you may save half a day.

What to Bring and How to Prepare Before Visiting a Delaware Medicaid Office

Staff can only act on what you can document. A little preparation prevents the most common cause of repeat trips, which is a missing paper. Residents should gather the following before going:

You do not always need to go in person. Delaware residents can apply through the state's online benefits portal, by mail, or by phone, and the office staff can help you if you get stuck. When you visit, ask for a written receipt or confirmation that shows the date your application or documents were received. That date can matter if there is a later dispute about when your coverage should begin.

Using Medicaid After You Are Approved in Delaware

Approval is not the end of the process. After enrollment, you will usually select or be assigned a managed care organization, receive a member ID card, and choose a primary care provider from the plan's network. Keep your mailing address current with DHSS, because renewal notices and requests for information are sent by mail and have deadlines. Missing one is a common way for eligible people to lose coverage. Since the end of pandemic-era continuous coverage, Delaware has returned to regular annual renewals, so expect to confirm your information each year.

If your circumstances change, report it. A new job, a change in household size, a move to another county, or a pregnancy can all affect eligibility or the type of coverage you get. If you disagree with a decision, you have the right to ask for a fair hearing, and the denial notice explains how and by when you must request it. The Milford and New Castle offices can point you to the right process, and the sections below answer the questions residents ask most often.

Medicaid in Delaware is administered by the state health and human services agency, providing health coverage for eligible low-income residents through a combination of fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems tailored to the state's population needs.

Medicaid Office locations are available in 2 cities across Delaware. They are spread across 2 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Milford, New Castle, which have the largest Medicaid caseloads in the state and dedicated eligibility offices to serve high-need urban populations.

Residents of Delaware can apply for Medicaid online through the state's health benefits portal or health exchange, by calling the Medicaid agency's toll-free number, or by visiting a local eligibility office with the required documentation.

Milford Delaware Medicaid Office

View Details Call Now (302) 424-7210

Milford Delaware Medicaid Office

Address
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Hours

New Castle Delaware Medicaid Office

View Details Call Now (302) 255-9500

New Castle Delaware Medicaid Office

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Residents of Delaware who currently receive Medicaid should complete their annual renewal on time to avoid a gap in coverage. Most states send renewal notices by mail and email, and online renewal is typically the fastest method to maintain uninterrupted healthcare coverage.

Browse Medicaid Office by county across Delaware to find the nearest location.

Practical Notes for Using a Medicaid Office in Delaware

Delaware's size works in your favor. No resident lives more than a short drive from a State Service Center, and the same state rules apply in every county. The two offices in this directory, Milford in Sussex County and New Castle in New Castle County, are best treated as places to get questions answered and paperwork handled, not as the only door into the program.

Before you leave home, call the number listed for the office you plan to visit, which is 302-424-7210 for Milford and 302-255-9500 for New Castle. Ask about current walk-in hours, whether an appointment is needed for your issue, and which documents to bring. Hours and procedures change, and a two-minute call can save a long trip. If you are helping a parent, a child, or a neighbor, ask whether the person must be present or whether a signed authorization is enough.

Write down the name of the person who helps you, the date, and what you were told. Keep copies of everything you submit. These simple habits resolve many disputes quickly and make any later appeal much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicaid in Delaware

Medicaid in Delaware is administered by the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, known as DMMA, which is part of the Department of Health and Social Services. DMMA manages policy, federal reporting, and the contracts with the managed care organizations that deliver most benefits. Because the state has no county-run Medicaid departments, the rules are the same in all three counties. The offices in Milford and New Castle are state sites, so a decision made at one location follows the same standards as a decision made at the other.

The Milford Delaware Medicaid Office is at 253 Northeast Front Street, Milford, and its listed phone number is 302-424-7210. It serves southern Delaware, and our database places it in Sussex County. Residents of Milford, Georgetown, Seaford, Laurel, and nearby communities often find it the most convenient option. Anyone in the state can apply through any channel, so you are not required to use the office closest to your home. Call first to check hours and confirm what the staff can handle in person.

The New Castle Delaware Medicaid Office is at 1901 North Dupont Highway, New Castle, with the listed phone number 302-255-9500. This address is on a large DHSS campus in New Castle County, where several state health and social service functions operate. Because many programs share the site, tell the front desk specifically that you need Medicaid help so you are directed to the right counter. Ask whether you need an appointment, and bring identification and proof of income, because staff cannot review a case without documents.

Yes. Delaware expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act in 2014. Adults aged 19 to 64 whose household income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify, even if they have no children and no disability. Separate categories exist for children, pregnant women, parents, older adults, and people with disabilities, some with different income tests. The poverty guidelines are updated each year, so ask DHSS for the current dollar amounts for your household size before applying.

The Diamond State Health Plan is the name of Delaware's Medicaid managed care program. Most members are enrolled with a managed care organization under contract with the state, which provides a member card, a provider network, and a customer service line. People who need long-term services and supports, such as nursing facility care or help at home, are typically enrolled in Diamond State Health Plan Plus. If you are unsure which program applies to you, ask the office staff or your plan, and keep your member card with you at every appointment.

Yes. Delaware accepts applications through the state's online benefits portal, by mail, and by phone, and in-person help is available when you need it. Many residents, especially those in rural Sussex County or in Kent County, find that applying online and then mailing or uploading documents saves a long drive. Keep a copy of your confirmation and note the date. If DHSS asks for more information, respond by the deadline in the notice, because missing it can delay or end your application.

Read the denial notice first. It states the reason and explains how to request a fair hearing, along with the deadline, which is short. If the reason was a missing document, you may be able to submit it and have the case reviewed. If you believe the agency misjudged your income or household, request the hearing in writing and keep a copy. You can also ask about other options, such as marketplace coverage with subsidies. Free legal aid organizations in Delaware may help with appeals for eligible residents.