- 3carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in Sussex County
- 40plans on the Sussex shelf, from 13 bronze to 14 gold
- $692benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Sussex, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Sussex County
Sussex County and New Castle 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 Sussex. Ambetter Health of Delaware alone accounts for 17 of the 40 plans in Sussex, 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 |
Sussex plan counts from the CMS 2026 landscape file (county FIPS 10005, 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 Sussex County for 2027
Ambetter sells 17 of the 40 plans in Sussex 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 Sussex lineup: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware and AmeriHealth Caritas Next. If you are enrolled with Ambetter in Sussex, 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 Sussex County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Sussex County
Sussex 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 Sussex the extra gold premium pays for a lower deductible rather than coming free.
In Sussex 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 Sussex whose expected share is $149 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Sussex 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.
Sussex County and New Castle County share Rating Area 1, so the same plan costs the same in both, and the Sussex cheapest bronze and benchmark match New Castle exactly. Even the menu is identical, 40 plans from the same three carriers, so for shopping purposes Sussex and New Castle are one market.
Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex shelf to one company. 8 plans in Sussex 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 Sussex price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Sussex the premium tax credit is measured against the $692 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Sussex numbers for you.
2027 plans for Sussex County
These are the 2026 plans and prices for Sussex County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new Sussex 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 Sussex County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Sussex County, Delaware?
For 2026, three carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Sussex 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 Sussex County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Sussex County is $424 a month for a 21 year old, $542 at 40 and $1,152 at 60. In Sussex 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 Sussex, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $366 at age 21. Most people in Sussex who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Sussex 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 Sussex County before subsidies. In Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex County. Two carriers from the 2026 Sussex 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 Sussex County?
Yes to both. 15 of the 40 plans in Sussex 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 Sussex is $727 a month before subsidies.
More for Sussex County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Delaware, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Delaware
- How Sussex compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Sussex subsidy
Get your Sussex County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Sussex 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), Sussex 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