How to renew your Delaware Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Delaware Medicaid

Always respond to official renewal notices from Delaware Medicaid. Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Keep your contact information current with DHSS — renewal notices go to your address on file

Delaware DHSS sends renewal notices by mail and through the ASSIST portal at assist.dhss.delaware.gov. Members with outdated addresses miss these notices and can lose coverage. Call Customer Relations at (866) 843-7212 to update your address or household information at any time.

How Delaware Medicaid renews your coverage

Delaware DMMA renews Medicaid eligibility annually. Delaware first attempts an ex parte review — using electronic data from the Social Security Administration, state wage records, and other federal databases to verify eligibility without requiring member action. When electronic verification succeeds, DMMA renews coverage and sends a notice.

When electronic verification is insufficient, DMMA mails a renewal packet to the address on file. Members must complete and return the renewal form with required documentation by the deadline on the notice — typically 30 days. Missing the deadline results in coverage termination; members can reapply at any time through ASSIST.

How to complete your Delaware Medicaid renewal

1

Watch for your renewal notice

DMMA sends renewal notices by mail approximately 60–90 days before your coverage anniversary date. Your renewal period falls on the same month each year as your initial enrollment. Keep your mailing address current — call (866) 843-7212 to update it.
2

Review and update your information

Confirm that income, household members, address, and citizenship/immigration status are still accurate. Report any changes in income or household composition before the deadline.
3

Gather documentation if requested

DMMA may ask for recent pay stubs, a Social Security award letter, proof of Delaware residency, or other documents. Respond by the deadline stated in your renewal notice.
4

Submit your renewal

Return the completed renewal form online at assist.dhss.delaware.gov, by calling (866) 843-7212, by mail, or in person at a DHSS office. Online submission is fastest.
5

Confirm your MCO enrollment is active

After DMMA processes your renewal, confirm your coverage is active with your MCO — Highmark Health Options or Molina Healthcare. Contact the Health Benefits Manager at (800) 996-9969 with plan-related questions.

Documents that may be needed at renewal

Recent pay stubs (one to two months) or self-employment income records
Social Security or SSI award letter if receiving benefits
Proof of Delaware residency — utility bill, lease, bank statement
Immigration documents if your status has changed
Documentation of household changes (new members, income changes)

If your Delaware Medicaid coverage was terminated

If DMMA terminates your coverage and you believe you remain eligible, you have the right to request a fair hearing. Request within 30 days of the termination notice. If you request a hearing before your coverage end date, Delaware may continue your coverage while the hearing is pending — known as "aid paid pending."

Retroactive eligibility may cover recent bills

Delaware offers retroactive Medicaid coverage going back up to three months before your application date. Per DMMA's official eligibility page, Delaware explicitly flags retro-eligibility as an option. If you have outstanding medical bills from recent months, ask about retroactive coverage when you reapply — it can cover bills already received.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Delaware Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Delaware Medicaid to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Delaware Medicaid sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Delaware Medicaid's online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Delaware Medicaid to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Delaware Medicaid within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Delaware Medicaid or update your information through the online portal at https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dmma.