- 2carriers selling 2027 marketplace plans in New Castle County
- 29plans on the New Castle shelf, from 9 bronze to 10 gold
- $876benchmark silver for a 40 year old in New Castle, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in New Castle County
New Castle County and Sussex County, the two Delaware counties I track, have the same number of carriers, two each. Across all 79 counties and parishes I track, 69 have more carriers than New Castle. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware alone accounts for 20 of the 29 plans in New Castle, 69 percent of the shelf, so a lot of what you see when you shop is one company's lineup in different metal levels.
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware | 20 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | PPO 20 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | HMO 9 |
New Castle plan counts from the CMS 2027 landscape file (county FIPS 10003, Rating Area 1). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
What changed in New Castle County for 2027
Ambetter Health of Delaware sold 17 of the 40 plans in New Castle County in 2026 and has no plans here in the 2027 CMS file. If you were enrolled with Ambetter Health of Delaware, you should have a notice by now. If you do nothing you are moved to a replacement plan picked on price and metal level, and nothing in that process checks your doctors or prescriptions. New Castle now has two carriers and 29 plans, against three carriers and 40 plans in 2026.
What it costs in New Castle County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest New Castle plan at each metal level. I show the sticker price because it is what your subsidy is subtracted from, and most people who enroll in New Castle pay less, often a lot less.
| Monthly premium, full price | Age 21 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Couple, both 40 | Couple 40 + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bronze | $519 | $663 | $1,408 | $1,326 | $2,120 |
| Lowest silver | $680 | $869 | $1,845 | $1,738 | $2,778 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $686 | $876 | $1,861 | $1,753 | $2,802 |
| Lowest gold | $642 | $821 | $1,743 | $1,642 | $2,624 |
| Lowest platinum | $915 | $1,170 | $2,484 | $2,339 | $3,739 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 6 silver premiums listed for New Castle. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in New Castle County
The gold row is the surprise in New Castle County. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old, $821 a month, is $48 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $869. That happens because Delaware carriers load the cost of the extra silver discounts into silver premiums. If your income is too high for those discounts, silver is the worst value on the New Castle shelf, and a gold deductible here tops out at $2,500.
In New Castle County the benchmark is $213 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 30 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a wider one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $876 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in New Castle whose expected share is $213 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the New Castle gap grows to $453 and at 21 it shrinks to $167, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
New Castle County and Sussex County share Rating Area 1, so the same plan costs the same in both, and the New Castle cheapest bronze and benchmark match Sussex exactly. Even the menu is identical, 29 plans from the same two carriers, so for shopping purposes New Castle and Sussex are one market.
New Castle plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 1 | 0 | |
| Expanded Bronze | 9 | 2 | $0 to $9,500 |
| Silver | 6 | 2 | $0 to $6,400 |
| Gold | 10 | 3 | $0 to $2,500 |
| Platinum | 3 | 3 | |
| Total | 29 | 10 |
By network type the 29 New Castle plans break down as 20 PPO and 9 HMO. PPOs are the majority here, 20 of the 29, and they come from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, so a plan that lets you see specialists without a referral is easy to find in New Castle. 10 plans in New Castle have a $0 medical deductible (3 gold, 3 platinum, 2 expanded bronze and 2 silver). The 2 bronze ones among them still have out of pocket maximums of $11,700, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every New Castle price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in New Castle the premium tax credit is measured against the $876 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the New Castle numbers for you.
2027 plans for New Castle County
These are the 2027 plans and prices for New Castle County, from the CMS plan file released at the end of October 2026. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Delaware runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1. If you already have a New Castle plan, compare before you let it renew, because your carrier and your benchmark may both have changed.
Questions about New Castle County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in New Castle County, Delaware?
For 2027, two carriers sell individual marketplace plans in New Castle County: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and AmeriHealth Caritas Next. Together they offer 29 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in New Castle County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in New Castle County is $519 a month for a 21 year old, $663 at 40 and $1,408 at 60. In New Castle a couple both aged 40 pays $1,326 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $2,120. Catastrophic plans in New Castle, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $430 at age 21. Most people in New Castle who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in New Castle County for 2027?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $876 a month for a 40 year old in New Castle County before subsidies. In New Castle it is $686 at age 21 and $1,861 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $869 at 40.
Which insurance companies left New Castle County for 2027?
Ambetter Health of Delaware sold 17 plans in New Castle County in 2026 and has no plans there in the 2027 CMS plan file. Carriers still selling from the 2026 lineup: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and AmeriHealth Caritas Next. No new carrier entered for 2027.
Can I get a PPO or a $0 deductible plan in New Castle County?
Yes to both. 20 of the 29 plans in New Castle are PPOs, all from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, and 10 plans have a $0 medical deductible. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in New Castle is $821 a month before subsidies.
More for New Castle County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Delaware, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Delaware
- How New Castle compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a New Castle subsidy
Get your New Castle County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every New Castle plan you qualify for with your subsidy applied, free and with no pressure.
Get my free quote → Or book a callSources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical, plan year 2027 (public use file), New Castle County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines