- 3carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in New Castle County
- 40plans on the New Castle shelf, from 13 bronze to 14 gold
- $692benchmark 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, three each. Across all 79 counties and parishes I track in 24 states, 62 have more carriers than New Castle. Ambetter Health of Delaware alone accounts for 17 of the 40 plans in New Castle, 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambetter Health of Delaware Leaving for 2027 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 0 | EPO 17 |
| Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware | 15 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | PPO 15 |
| AmeriHealth Caritas Next | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | HMO 8 |
New Castle plan counts from the CMS 2026 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.
Leaving New Castle County for 2027
Ambetter sells 17 of the 40 plans in New Castle County this year. Celtic Insurance, which sells as Ambetter, is leaving the Delaware individual market at the end of 2026. After that exit, two carriers are left from the 2026 New Castle lineup: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and AmeriHealth Caritas Next. If you are enrolled with Ambetter in New Castle, you will get a notice this fall. 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.
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 | $424 | $542 | $1,152 | $1,085 | $1,734 |
| Lowest silver | $536 | $685 | $1,455 | $1,370 | $2,191 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $541 | $692 | $1,469 | $1,383 | $2,212 |
| Lowest gold | $569 | $727 | $1,544 | $1,454 | $2,325 |
| Lowest platinum | $794 | $1,015 | $2,155 | $2,030 | $3,245 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 10 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
New Castle County is one of 32 of the 79 counties and parishes on my list where the metal levels are priced in the order you would expect. The cheapest gold at 40 is $727, which is $36 above the benchmark silver and $42 above the cheapest silver. In New Castle the extra gold premium pays for a lower deductible rather than coming free.
In New Castle County the benchmark is $149 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and 22 of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a narrower one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $692 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in New Castle whose expected share is $149 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the New Castle gap grows to $317 and at 21 it shrinks to $117, 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, 40 plans from the same three 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 | |
| Bronze | 1 | 0 | $10,600 to $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | 12 | 0 | $3,800 to $9,200 |
| Silver | 10 | 3 | $0 to $6,300 |
| Gold | 14 | 3 | $0 to $2,000 |
| Platinum | 2 | 2 | |
| Total | 40 | 8 |
By network type the 40 New Castle plans break down as 17 EPO, 15 PPO and 8 HMO. Only 15 are PPOs, and every one of them comes from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware. If seeing specialists without a referral matters to you, that narrows the New Castle shelf to one company. 8 plans in New Castle have a $0 medical deductible (3 silver, 3 gold and 2 platinum). They cost more each month, but nothing has to be spent before the plan starts paying.
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 $692 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 2026 plans and prices for New Castle County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new New Castle numbers then. 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.
Questions about New Castle County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in New Castle County, Delaware?
For 2026, three carriers sell individual marketplace plans in New Castle County: Ambetter Health of Delaware, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and AmeriHealth Caritas Next. Together they offer 40 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 $424 a month for a 21 year old, $542 at 40 and $1,152 at 60. In New Castle a couple both aged 40 pays $1,085 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,734. Catastrophic plans in New Castle, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $366 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 2026?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $692 a month for a 40 year old in New Castle County before subsidies. In New Castle it is $541 at age 21 and $1,469 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $685 at 40.
Which insurance companies are leaving New Castle County for 2027?
Celtic Insurance, which sells as Ambetter, is leaving the Delaware individual market at the end of 2026. In 2026 it sells 17 plans in New Castle County. Two carriers from the 2026 New Castle lineup remain: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and AmeriHealth Caritas Next. The full 2027 lineup and prices are published around November 1, 2026.
Can I get a PPO or a $0 deductible plan in New Castle County?
Yes to both. 15 of the 40 plans in New Castle are PPOs, all from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, and 8 plans have a $0 medical deductible. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in New Castle is $727 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 2026 (public use file), New Castle County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- ACA Signups, Delaware 2027 rate filings and carrier withdrawals
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines