Medicaid Work Requirements in Delaware
Delaware had not published a member page about the work requirement as of October 30, 2026. The federal deadline of January 1, 2027 applies unless the state gets a federal exemption.
Limited official details so far. Delaware has published very little about the requirement. We found no member page, reporting method, or screening tool as of October 30, 2026. Check the DMMA website or call your Medicaid health plan for updates.
Check your situation in Delaware
When it starts in Delaware
- January 2026: notes from a DHSS advisory committee meeting say the rule mainly affects adult expansion members and that a public outreach campaign was planned.
- The state FY2027 budget funds "employment, education and training application requirements" and upgrades to the ASSIST eligibility system.
Who has to meet it
The rule applies to people ages 19 to 64 in the Medicaid adult expansion group, unless they are pregnant, have Medicare, or are exempt. You meet it in a month with 80 hours of work, community service, a work program, or school (in any mix), by going to school at least half-time, or with at least $580 in monthly income.
You are exempt if, for example, you care for a child 13 or younger or a person with a disability, are pregnant or postpartum, are American Indian or Alaska Native, are medically frail, are a veteran with a total (100%) VA disability rating or TDIU, were in foster care at 18 and are under 26, are in drug or alcohol treatment, meet SNAP or TANF work rules, or left jail or prison in the last 3 months. See the full exemption list.
Court ruling, October 29, 2026. In Massachusetts v. Oz, a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra "significantly impairs" test for the medically frail exemption. If you are in any of the five medically frail groups in the law, you qualify. Delaware was one of the parties that sued, so the court also gave Delaware six months of relief from federal enforcement of its medically frail decisions while it updates its systems. The January 1, 2027 start date did not change, and CMS may appeal. What the ruling means.
How Delaware checks and how to report
Months checked: Not yet announced.
Delaware has not yet published how members will report. Keep your contact details current with DMMA and keep proof of your hours.
Official tools and contacts
Federal protections that apply in Delaware
- The state must check its own records before asking you for proof.
- If it can't confirm you meet the rule, you get a notice and at least 30 days to respond, and your coverage continues meanwhile.
- You get written notice and the right to a fair hearing before coverage ends, and you can reapply at any time.
- If you lose Medicaid for not meeting the rule, you cannot get marketplace premium tax credits for those months. Learn more.
Frequently asked questions
When do Medicaid work requirements start in Delaware?
January 1, 2027 (federal deadline). Current members are usually checked at their first renewal on or after that date.
How many months does Delaware check?
Not yet announced.
How do I report my hours or an exemption in Delaware?
Delaware has not yet published how members will report. Keep your contact details current with DMMA and keep proof of your hours.
Who do I call about Delaware Medicaid work requirements?
Delaware has not published a dedicated phone line for the requirement. Use the contact options on the Delaware Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA) website.
Can I lose Delaware Medicaid right away if I don't meet the requirement?
No. Federal law requires a notice, at least 30 days to show you comply or are exempt, continued coverage during that time, and fair hearing rights before coverage ends.
Sources
- Delaware DHSS: advisory committee meeting notes (Jan. 13, 2026)
- Delaware FY2027 DHSS budget presentation
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1), sec. 71119: community engagement requirement (GovInfo)
- CMS interim final rule, Medicaid community engagement requirement, 91 FR 33348 (June 3, 2026)
- Massachusetts v. Oz, No. 1:26-cv-12962-RGS (D. Mass.), memorandum and order (Oct. 29, 2026)