Delaware Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans
What is a D-SNP?
If you live in Delaware and get both Medicare and Medicaid, you are called a dual-eligible person. Delaware gives you the chance to join a special plan called a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). A D-SNP is a type of Medicare plan that also includes Medicaid benefits. It helps make sure your healthcare, medicines, and bills are all managed together.
For example, if you see many doctors or take different medicines, your D-SNP will help your doctors work together and share information. This makes it easier for your doctors to give you the right care and plan your treatments.
How do you know if you are eligible for a D-SNP?
To join a D-SNP, you must:
- Have Medicare Parts A and B. You can check this on your Medicare Card.
- You must qualify for Delaware Medicaid. You can learn more about Medicaid eligibility here.
When and how can you enroll in a D-SNP?
There are several times when dual-eligible people can sign up for a D-SNP:
1. When you first become eligible for Medicare, you can join a D-SNP during the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) . This usually happens when you turn 65 years old. The IEP lasts for seven months, starting three months before your 65th birthday and ending three months afterward. If you are born on the first day of the month, your IEP starts four months before and ends two months after your birthday. If you get Medicare early because of a disability, kidney failure, or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and you also qualify for Medicaid, you can join a D-SNP at the same time.
2. You can also join a D-SNP during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, also called Medicare Open Enrollment. This runs from October 15 to December 7 each year.
3. Some people might be able to join a D-SNP during a Special Enrollment Period, which is a different time outside the regular periods.
Each plan may have slightly different steps to sign up. To learn more, visit their website or call.
| D-SNP | Webpage | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| AmeriHealth VIP Care | https://www.amerihealthcaritasvipcare.com/de |
Member services: 1 833 433 3767 If you are not a member: 1 800 803 8931 |
| Delaware First Health (Wellcare) | https://www.delawarefirsthealth.com/ | Member services: 1 877 236 1341 |
| Highmark Health Options Duals | https://www.highmark.com/health-options-de/duals | Member services: 1 855 401 8251 |
|
Aetna (No longer available starting January 1, 2026) |
https://www.aetna.com/medicare/compare-plans-enroll/medicare-advantage-dsnp-plans.html | Member Services: 1 833 223 0614 |
|
Cigna (No longer available starting January 1, 2026) |
https://www.cigna.com/medicare/shop-plans/medicare-advantage/special-needs-plans | Member Services: 1 855 984 1401 |
|
United HealthCare (No longer available starting January 1, 2026) |
https://www.uhc.com/communityplan/dual-special-needs-plans | Member Services: 1 866 523 7508 |
To sign up for a D-SNP, you can:
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to Medicare.gov.
- Contact the D-SNP plan directly.
- Talk to an insurance agent or broker.
What are supplemental benefits?
Another good thing about signing up for a D-SNP is that some plans offer extra benefits beyond those covered by Medicaid and Medicare. These extra benefits can be different depending on the plan, and may include:
- Telehealth and online doctor visits
- Dental care
- Foot doctor (podiatry) services
- Emergency call systems you can wear or keep at home
- More hearing benefits
- Extra help at home
Where can I get more information?
If you have additional questions, you can:
- Call the number on the back of your D-SNP member ID card.
- Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227.
- Call the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau at 1-800-336-9500.
Changes are coming. Action needed.
Delaware is making some new changes to help dual-eligible individuals get better care. Starting on January 1, 2026, Delaware will only allow D-SNPs that are “exclusively aligned.” An “exclusively aligned” plan means that your Medicare and Medicaid benefits come from the same plan. Delaware will use a “Medicare first” approach, meaning that the plan you pick for your Medicare will also take care of your Medicaid benefits. This means that if you are currently getting Medicare and Medicaid from two different plans, you will start getting both from just one plan. You will need to decide which plan you will enroll in during open enrollment.
If you are currently enrolled with United, Aetna, or Cigna, you will need to think about choosing a different plan during the Open Enrollment Period from October 15, 2025, to December 7, 2025. You may also be eligible for a special enrollment period if you are currently with United, Aetna, or Cigna. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE to see if you qualify for a special enrollment period.
Beginning in January 2026, only these D-SNP plans will be available in Delaware:
- AmeriHealth VIP Care
- Delaware First Health (Wellcare)
- Highmark Health Options Duals
If you are with United, Aetna, or Cigna and do not want to switch to one of the plans above, you can also choose to go back to Traditional Medicare or sign up for a regular Medicare Advantage Plan.