Who is leaving, what's left in your county, and what to do before the deadline. Last checked October 5, 2026.
One insurance company is leaving the Delaware marketplace for 2027.
Altogether, 3 of Delaware's 3 counties lose at least one marketplace insurer.
Hi, I'm Sam Jaber, licensed to sell health insurance in 36 states, including Delaware. Ambetter Health of Delaware is exiting the marketplace at the end of 2026, and the impact reaches across this small state. All three Delaware counties shared the same marketplace insurers. Whether you were a Wilmington family, a Lewes retiree or a farmer near Dover, you chose among the same three companies. For next year, that number falls to two.
You can see the change in the Insurance Department's 2027 rate announcement. Only two marketplace insurers received approved rates, and Ambetter doesn't appear among them.
If Ambetter currently covers you, you'll have to select different coverage for 2027. Delaware's only EPO insurer was Ambetter, with 17 EPO plans, so the change goes beyond switching insurance companies. You'll also be choosing another type of plan. The remaining insurers offer an HMO and a PPO. HMOs generally require in-network care, much like your EPO. PPOs provide some coverage outside the network, although you'll pay more for that care and usually face a higher monthly premium.
For some Delaware residents, this is becoming familiar. Aetna exited the state's marketplace for 2026, meaning people who switched from Aetna to Ambetter now have to change coverage again. That's two required switches in two years. I'd rather see you select your next plan deliberately than leave the decision to the marketplace's automatic placement process.
Make a list of your physicians, hospital and medications before December 15, and compare it with both insurers' networks. Anyone using a specialist in Philadelphia, Baltimore or Salisbury should verify that specific practice, not just the general network. And if you're healthy without a subsidy and paying the full premium, get a nationwide PPO quote alongside those two marketplace choices.
Different state? Pick yours here.
These are the 3 Delaware counties where at least one marketplace insurer is leaving. For each one you can see who's leaving, how many marketplace insurers are left, and which ones.
On the marketplace, PPO plans were sold in 3 of Delaware's 3 counties in 2026, and all 3 of those counties still have one after the exits. Those PPO plans come from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.
| County | Insurer leaving | Insurers left | Who's left (2026 plans) | Marketplace PPO after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | Ambetter (Centene) | 2 | AmeriHealth Caritas; Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware | Yes |
| New Castle | Ambetter (Centene) | 2 | AmeriHealth Caritas; Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware | Yes |
| Sussex | Ambetter (Centene) | 2 | AmeriHealth Caritas; Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware | Yes |
County data: CMS 2026 marketplace plan data source. Insurers are counted by company, and the table uses each company's 2026 service area, so a company that enters or expands for 2027 isn't counted yet. I'll update it when the 2027 plan list publishes in late October.
You've probably seen a few other names mentioned in news coverage of this. Here's what their actual situations look like.
Your coverage doesn't end immediately just because the insurer is leaving. The existing policy continues through December 31, 2026, and you're entitled to written notice beforehand. Federal requirements call for at least 90 calendar days of notice when an insurer discontinues a plan, or at least 180 calendar days when it withdraws completely from a state's individual market. Haven't received anything yet? Contact your insurer and request the notice.
Here's where people often misunderstand the process. Under federal regulation 45 CFR 155.335, the marketplace may place you with another insurer when your current company has no remaining marketplace plan. That's permission, not a guarantee. State law and the regulator's instructions govern the transfer. Without specific direction, the marketplace chooses a "similar" plan. The regulation doesn't require anyone to verify that your doctors or medications are covered.
Purchased your coverage directly from the insurer rather than through the marketplace? Its automatic re-enrollment provisions don't apply to your policy. You'll have to select replacement coverage on your own.
HealthCare.gov opens enrollment November 1. You should receive 2 notices by that point, one from your insurer and another from the marketplace. The marketplace notice identifies any replacement plan you'll be placed in if you haven't acted by December 15. HealthCare.gov also warns that automatic re-enrollment doesn't happen in every situation.
Choose your replacement no later than December 15 to begin coverage January 1. Enrolling from December 16 through January 15 gives you a February 1 effective date. If your previous policy ends December 31, that means going without coverage for January.
You might still qualify to enroll after the regular window closes. HealthCare.gov recognizes discontinued coverage as a qualifying event, and federal regulations allow 60 days before and 60 days after your old plan's termination to select replacement coverage. I wouldn't rely on that as your first choice. Make sure you're eligible before planning around those dates.
The way I'd approach this depends on your particular situation and where things stand for you. Whichever route makes sense, the next step is the same: let's talk on the phone before the deadline.
If your income puts you outside the tax credit range, you're responsible for the entire marketplace premium, with your choices limited to the insurers serving your county. That's when I'd also consider private coverage. Medically underwritten plans use nationwide PPO networks, and their pricing reflects your health. Healthy applicants may pay less than the marketplace's unsubsidized rate. There are tradeoffs: insurers ask medical questions and can reject an application or exclude a preexisting condition. We'll review those details together before you decide.
Next step: Give me a call, and I'll compare a nationwide PPO quote for your household with the marketplace coverage offered in your Delaware county.
Regardless of which insurers remain on your county's marketplace, I can help you obtain a nationwide PPO in Delaware. On the marketplace, PPO plans were sold in 3 of Delaware's 3 counties in 2026, and all 3 of those counties still have one after the exits. Those PPO plans come from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.
For healthy people paying the entire marketplace premium, it's worth comparing private, medically underwritten PPO coverage. These plans offer networks extending nationwide. I carry health insurance licenses in 36 states, including Delaware.
Straight answers, no sales pitch.
Ambetter Health of Delaware (confirmed). Altogether, 3 of Delaware's 3 counties lose at least one marketplace insurer.
Possibly, but there's no guarantee. Federal rules permit the marketplace to assign a comparable plan from another insurer when state law and regulators allow it. HealthCare.gov specifically cautions that automatic re-enrollment isn't always available. And if your current coverage was purchased outside the marketplace, that process won't apply. My advice is to choose your replacement yourself.
To start coverage January 1 through HealthCare.gov, enroll by December 15. You have until January 15 before open enrollment ends, but selecting a plan after December 15 means it won't take effect until February 1.
Yes. I can help you find a nationwide PPO available in Delaware. On the marketplace, PPO plans were sold in 3 of Delaware's 3 counties in 2026, and all 3 of those counties still have one after the exits. Those PPO plans come from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware.
Last checked October 5, 2026. I update this page when the 2027 plan list publishes in late October.
Call me with your county, the people who need coverage and the details of your notice. I'll compare the remaining Delaware marketplace plans with a nationwide PPO quote and help you decide before enrollment ends. I'm licensed in 36 states, and we can handle everything by phone.
Every state on the list, and guides for Delaware