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DelawareHB 209153rd General Assembly (2024–2026)HouseWALLET

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO HEALTH CARE AND THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

Sponsored By: Krista Griffith (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Child-only health plan options for families

Individual and small-group insurers offering a coverage level under federal or state law must also offer a child-only version. Every enrollee in that plan must be under age 21 at the start of the plan year. The child-only plan must offer the same coverage level. The law updates the federal rules used for this requirement to January 1, 2025, retroactively from that date.

Updated enrollment and fair treatment protections

Group and individual insurers must allow enrollment within 30 calendar days after a qualifying event defined by federal ERISA law. Coverage starts on dates set by federal rules as they stood on January 1, 2025. These enrollment opportunities are in addition to other periods required by federal or state law. Group health plans and insurers offering group or individual coverage must also follow Affordable Care Act nondiscrimination protections. The law applies the January 1, 2025 federal rules retroactively from that date.

Updated health benefits and cost protections

Delaware updates these coverage rules retroactively to January 1, 2025, replacing references to January 1, 2018 federal rules. Individual and small-group insurers must cover essential health benefits, with Delaware's Insurance Commissioner issuing rules defining those benefits. Group plans and individual coverage must keep yearly cost-sharing within Affordable Care Act limits. Updated essential health benefit definitions also govern protections against yearly and lifetime benefit limits under the affected Delaware laws. Delaware law and applicable state rules also apply.

Dental-only plans keep separate coverage rules

Qualifying dental-only plans remain exempt from the comprehensive coverage requirements for individual and small-group health insurance. This preserves separate dental plan options, but those plans do not have the comprehensive coverage protections required by these sections. The exception covers plans described in Affordable Care Act section 1311(d)(2)(B)(ii). The law updates the federal reference to January 1, 2025, retroactively from that date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Krista Griffith

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • William Bush

    Democratic • House

  • Mara Gorman

    Democratic • House

  • Kyra L. Hoffner

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kendra Johnson

    Democratic • House

  • Spiros Mantzavinos

    Democratic • Senate

  • Melanie Ross Levin

    Democratic • House

  • David P. Sokola

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 61 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/30/2025

Passed (SM required)

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote • 6/17/2025

Passed (2/3 required)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor

    7/21/2025Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

    6/30/2025Senate

  3. Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 5 On Its Merits

    6/25/2025Senate

  4. Assigned to Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee in Senate

    6/17/2025Senate

  5. Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

    6/17/2025House

  6. Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 8 On Its Merits

    6/10/2025House

  7. Introduced and Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House

    6/6/2025House

Bill Text

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