The Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, also known as the ACA Medicaid expansion, is one of the ways the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has helped decrease the amount of people without insurance. The ACA expansion of Medicaid was offered to all 50 states, including Delaware. This expansion plan aims to help millions of Americans gain access to quality Medicaid services. After the Obamacare Medicaid expansion details were released, many asked, “What is the Obamacare Medicaid expansion in Delaware, and will I now be able to get Medicaid benefits?” When a state accepts the Affordable Care Act expansion plan, the qualifications for Medicaid change to permit more beneficiaries. If a state does not accept the Medicaid expansion, it will keep its standing Medicaid qualifications. Many often ask, “What is the expansion of Medicaid?” and “Has my state expanded Medicaid?” when first learning about the expansion plan. To get answers to these questions and more, read the following informative sections.

Learn About the ACA Medicaid Expansion in Delaware

If you are interested in submitting a Delaware Affordable Care Act Medicaid application, you first must know if Delaware has accepted the expansion. Currently, 31 states and the District of Columbia have accepted the Affordable Care Act expansion of Medicaid, and Delaware is one of these 31 states.

While Delaware officials chose to move forward with the Obamacare expansion of Medicaid, it was not a decision that was taken lightly. All states that accept the expansion of Medicaid will have to carry some of the financial responsibilities that come with expanding medical benefits. Even with the help of the federal government, the ACA Medicaid expansion cost to states can cause financial difficulty for some states after a few years. This is mainly why the other states chose to forego the expansion. Yet, those in Delaware decided that the ACA Medicaid costs to the state would not overtake the benefits the program would give to the residents of Delaware. To learn more about the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, you can download our complimentary guide today.

What does choosing the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion mean for Delaware?

The ACA Medicaid expansion mainly mandates that all states that have accepted the expansion change the way they have set up their Medicaid qualifications. With the new Delaware Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion eligibility requirements in place, income will be the only factor for enrollment for some groups of candidates that do not qualify for certain types of Medicaid. Most states, including Delaware, have changed their Medicaid requirements to allow all those who earn up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level to receive benefits. Before the DE Obamacare Medicaid expansion, many factors, including age, disability and household composition, were considered when determining an applicant’s eligibility for Medicaid. The Obamacare Medicaid expansion details also call for all those who were a part of the foster care system to be able to receive Medicaid benefits until they are 26 years of age, regardless of income.

There have been many benefits to the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion in Delaware, including the decrease in the number of uninsured individuals across the state and the entire nation, with most states reporting about a 40 percent decrease in uninsured Americans. The DE Affordable Care Act expansion has allowed more adults who do not have children to receive medical benefits. Before the expansion, low-income adults who did not have dependents or a disability were not eligible for the program. The plan is also estimated to lower the amount of unpaid hospital bills across the state.

The Delaware Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion plan will continue to be active until the early 2020s, when the plan will be up for review by Delaware officials. There has been no change to the DE Medicaid expansion plan to date.

Will the ACA Medicaid expansion allow me to enroll in Medicaid?

The Delaware Affordable Care Act Medicaid application is available for anyone who lives in the state. The expansion of Medicaid largely impacts adults between 19 and 64 years of age. However, there continue to be Medicaid options for children, senior citizens and those with disabilities, among other qualifying groups. Applying for ACA expanded Medicaid in DE is the only way to know for sure if you will be accepted into the program.

If you are denied Delaware Medicaid benefits, you may still have other options for receiving Medicaid assistance. Certain programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is not technically part of Medicaid, so those who have been denied Medicaid benefits can still apply to those programs. To learn more about Medicaid and other medical assistance programs, download our comprehensive guide.