The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) gives free health insurance counseling to people with Medicare, and you can reach it at 1-800-336-9500. DMAB is Delaware's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and it is a division of the Delaware Department of Insurance. If you're weighing a Medigap switch under Delaware's new birthday rule, comparing plans for a parent, or untangling a Medicare bill, DMAB can sit down with you or talk it through by phone.

In This Guide

Why Is the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau Part of the Insurance Department?

SHIP is a federally funded program run by the states, and states house it in different places. The Administration for Community Living (ACL), the federal agency that manages the program, says SHIP services are delivered by state units on aging or state departments of insurance, working with local partners. Delaware chose the second route. The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau is a division of the Delaware Department of Insurance, and the Department's own Medigap guide describes DMAB as Delaware's SHIP. DMAB is funded in part by a grant from ACL.

That home matters most when your question is about insurance itself. When Delaware's Medigap birthday rule (Senate Bill 71) took effect on January 1, 2026, the Department of Insurance told residents with questions about their rights under SB 71 to contact the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau. So the bureau you call for a plan comparison is the same one the Department points to for a birthday-rule question.

DMAB counselors are volunteers who have completed extensive training on health insurance, and they give one-on-one help. DMAB counsels people with Medicare who are under 65 as well as those 65 and older, and its counseling covers Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance), Medicare Part D, long-term care insurance and other types of health insurance, at no charge. Our Delaware Medicare plans and coverage guide covers Delaware's costs and plan choices; this page is about using DMAB well.

Where Can You Meet a Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau Counselor?

Meeting a DMAB counselor starts with a phone call: DMAB's page tells you to call DMAB to set up a free counseling session with a trained volunteer at a site near you. The Department of Insurance's 2026 Delaware Medicare Supplement Insurance Guide lists five participating DMAB counseling sites:

DMAB counseling site Address Appointment
Delaware Department of Insurance 28 The Circle, Suite #1, Georgetown, DE 19947 By appointment only
Milford Senior Center 111 Park Avenue, Milford, DE 19963 Call DMAB for hours
Modern Maturity Center 1121 Forrest Ave., Dover, DE 19904 Call DMAB for hours
M.O.T. Senior Center 300 S. Scott Street, Middletown, DE 19709 Call DMAB for hours
Newark Senior Center 200 White Chapel Road, Newark, DE 19713 By appointment only

For the name of the DMAB counselor and the counseling hours at the site nearest you, the Department's guide says to call DMAB at (302) 674-7364.

Getting to a senior center isn't always possible, especially for a parent who no longer drives. DMAB's page says its counselors give both in-person and telephone assistance, and the 2026 guide says that if you can't visit a site, a DMAB counselor will call you to answer your questions.

Timing is worth planning around. Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7 each year, and changes you make then take effect January 1. Nationally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) reports that SHIP counselors face capacity constraints as call volumes have risen, so booking a DMAB session in early October gives you room to compare plans before the December 7 deadline.

What Should You Ask DMAB About?

DMAB's page lists the areas its counselors help with in person and by phone, including Medicare Part D, Medigap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, help for disabled Medicare beneficiaries under age 65, long-term care insurance, medical assistance programs, help for low-income beneficiaries, billing problems, and prescription savings for those who qualify. A few of those are worth raising by name.

A Medigap rate comparison before your birthday window

If you already have a Medigap policy, Delaware's birthday rule gives you a yearly window that starts 30 days before your birthday and lasts at least 30 days after it. During Delaware's birthday-rule window, you can switch to any Medigap plan with the same or lesser benefits, from your current carrier or a different one, and the insurer can't deny you or charge you more because of your health status, claims experience, receipt of health care or medical condition. DMAB's page invites Delawareans to call 302-674-7364 for a rate comparison, and the Department's guide describes it as a personalized plan comparison search with up-to-date rates. Asking DMAB for that comparison a month or two before your birthday turns the window into a real choice. Our Delaware Medigap birthday rule guide covers who the rule applies to and the carrier notice you should get.

Under 65 and on Medicare through a disability

If you got Medicare before 65, DMAB counsels you too: it serves people with Medicare who are under 65, and its page lists help for disabled Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 as its own service area. If you came onto Medicare through a disability, say so when you book, so the DMAB counselor starts from your situation rather than the age-65 rules.

Long-term care insurance questions

Long-term care insurance is on DMAB's list of counseling topics. Federal law also names information about long-term care insurance in the counseling a state's SHIP provides. If someone is selling your family a long-term care policy, or you're trying to understand one you already hold, a DMAB counselor is a free place to ask questions before you sign or cancel anything.

Plan comparison and enrollment

SHIP counselors are trained and certified to help people get coverage through Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medigap. MedPAC reports that some SHIP grantees help enroll beneficiaries in Medicare plans, so whether a DMAB counselor will complete an enrollment with you is a fair question to ask when you book.

Can DMAB Help You Pay for Medicare or Prescriptions?

DMAB lists help for low-income beneficiaries and prescription savings among its service areas, and nationally SHIP helps people with limited income apply for Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help., DMAB helps you with the questions; the Delaware programs themselves are run by the state's Medicaid agency.

A DMAB session is a good place to check which of these you might qualify for before you fill in any forms.

Is a DMAB Counselor on Your Side?

Federal law requires each state's SHIP grant plan to assure that SHIP staff, including volunteer staff, have no conflict of interest in providing counseling. ACL's conflict-of-interest guidance gives one example of a person with an inherent conflict: anyone paid for enrolling beneficiaries in a specific insurance plan. That rule covers DMAB's volunteer counselors, because DMAB is Delaware's SHIP. Our comparison of SHIP counselors and Medicare brokers explains how each one is paid.

DMAB can also help after a decision goes against you. Medicare's "Medicare Appeals" guide (April 2026) tells people with Medicare to call their SHIP for free, personalized counseling, including help with appeals. Bring the denial notice to your DMAB session. Our guide to Medicare appeals explains the levels and deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which DMAB number should I call, the 800 number or the 302 number?

Either one reaches the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau: DMAB lists 1-800-336-9500 as its toll-free number and (302) 674-7364 as its other line. The Department of Insurance's 2026 guide uses (302) 674-7364 for booking a counselor's name and hours at a site and for DMAB's plan comparison search.

Can I call DMAB on behalf of my parent?

Yes. The Administration for Community Living describes SHIP counseling as one-on-one help for Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers, and DMAB is Delaware's SHIP., If you can, have your parent on the call or at the session, since the counselor's answers will turn on their own coverage.

I moved to Delaware with a Medigap policy I bought in another state. Can DMAB help with the birthday rule?

Yes. The Delaware Department of Insurance says the birthday rule applies to out-of-state policyholders who now live in Delaware once their carrier becomes aware of their residency, so telling your carrier about the move matters. The Department directs anyone with questions about their SB 71 rights to the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau.

Is a DMAB session confidential?

The Delaware Department of Insurance describes a DMAB appointment as "a free, confidential session" when it tells residents how to reach the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau.

Should I call DMAB or 1-800-MEDICARE?

1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is the official Medicare line, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except some federal holidays, and TTY users call 1-877-486-2048. For a problem with a specific Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says to call the plan first, using the number on your member ID card. DMAB is the Delaware option when you want a trained volunteer to compare choices with you one-on-one, in person or by phone.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare in Delaware: Plans and CoverageMedicare in Delaware for 2026: Parts A and B, Advantage, Part D, Medigap, MSP help through DMMA, and free DMAB counseling. Costs, limits, where to apply. MedicareDelaware's Medigap Birthday RuleDelaware's Medigap birthday rule starts 30 days before your birthday and lasts at least 30 days after, letting you switch plans with no underwriting in 2026. MedicareDelaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP)The Delaware Prescription Assistance Program pays up to $3,000 a year toward drugs and Part D premiums. See 2026 income limits, co-pays, and how to apply. MedicaidDelaware Medicare Savings ProgramsDelaware Medicare Savings Programs in 2026: QMB, SLMB and QI income limits, what each pays, the asset rule, the QMB billing ban, and how to apply through DMMA. MedicareFree Medicare Counseling Through Your SHIPSHIP gives free Medicare counseling. Federal law requires its counselors to have no conflict of interest, and ACL bars licensed insurance agents. Find yours. MedicareSHIP Counselor or Medicare Broker?A SHIP counselor and a Medicare broker are both free to you, but one is paid by the government and one by the insurer. See who pays each and when to use which.

Find personalized help booking Medicare counseling in Delaware at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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