Understanding Medicare Special Needs Plans in New Castle County, Delaware

Medicare Special Needs Plans have with strict enrollment windows. By knowing when and how to sign up, you’ll avoid missed deadlines and keep your healthcare coverage aligned with your needs.

Key Medicare Enrollment Periods

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): This seven-month window starts three months before the month you turn 65 and ends three months after. It’s the first time you can sign up for Medicare and, if you choose, a Medicare Advantage plan. Learn more
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP): Between January 1 and March 31, people already enrolled in Medicare Advantage can make a one-time change—switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare. Learn more
• Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): From October 15 through December 7 each year, you can make changes to your Medicare coverage for the following year. Learn more
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Life events like moving to a new service area, losing other health coverage, or becoming eligible for assistance may open a Special Enrollment Period to adjust your Medicare coverage. Learn more

How to Sign Up for a Special Needs Plan

1. Licensed Agent Assistance: For one-on-one guidance, call 1-833-748-3201 (TTY 711). Licensed agents are available Mon-Fri 8AM-10PM, Sat 9AM-8PM EST.
2. Contact the Plan Provider Directly: Start enrollment by reaching out to the plan provider through their website or by phone with their member services team.
3. Use Medicare.gov: At Medicare.gov, you can compare Medicare Advantage plans side by side and enroll securely online.

• CMS.gov, Landscape Source Files — Version: CY2027 Landscape (202609.1)
• CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance — Version: 2027 Star Ratings Data Tables
• CMS.gov, Plan Benefits Package — Version: PBP Benefits-2027
• CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage/Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Version: 2026-09

Some facts and percentages shown on this page (such as average premiums, distribution of plan types, and percentage of $0 premium plans) are calculated by Medicare.org using data from the CMS Plan Benefits Package (PBP) files and Part C & D Performance files. All underlying values originate from CMS, and calculations are refreshed whenever CMS issues updated data.

To explore how 2027 Medicare SNP plans available in New Castle County compare with plans offered elsewhere, you can search the Special Needs Plan directory to review options nationwide using the same authoritative data sources.

Medicare.org separates Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) into different pages for clarity. As a result, plan counts, percentages, and other calculations shown here may differ from the aggregate totals published in the CMS Landscape files. All plan availability and benefit details originate from CMS.

Learn more about how we use CMS data.

• Medicare.gov, "Compare types of Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
• Medicare.gov, "Your coverage options" — Last accessed 23 May, 2025
• Medicare.gov, "Joining a plan" — Last accessed 21 May, 2025

Medicare.org is owned and operated by Health Network Group, LLC, an Allstate company. Medicare.org provides information only and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.

Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard.

Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Editorial Steward, using a standardized, data-driven methodology for accurate Medicare coverage interpretation and resolution.