With the Nov. 1 start to the Health Insurance Marketplace’s open enrollment period, the state is offering more choices than ever for Delawareans seeking health coverage in 2024.

During open enrollment, which ends Jan. 15, 2024, consumers can renew their existing coverage or sign up for a new plan at www.HealthCare.gov.

Coverage for those who sign up by Dec. 15 and pay their first month’s premium will be effective Jan. 1.

Individuals who do not act by Jan. 15, cannot get coverage for the new year unless they qualify for a special enrollment period based for instances such as losing qualifying health coverage, change of income, becoming a parent or other factors.

The state is offering four insurers for 2024, which is one more than the year prior, with a total of 55 plans compared to 30 last year.

In June, the state announced that Celtic Insurance Company Ambetter Health of Delaware would join Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, AmeriHealth Caritas and Aetna CVS Health on the marketplace for 2024.

The marketplace features plans that include levels bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic, which determine how individuals will split the costs of health care with their insurance company

Bronze plans have lower monthly premiums but higher costs of care, while gold plans have high premiums but lower costs for care.

Insurers pay about 70% of medical costs for silver plans while the individual pays about 30%, although such plans allow for additional savings through discounts on deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.

For 2024:

• Aetna CVS Health will offer six plans – two gold and four silver.
• AmeriHealth Caritas will offer seven plans – one gold, three silver, one bronze and two expanded bronze.
• Celtic/Ambetter Health of Delaware will offer 24 plans – eight gold, eight silver and eight expanded bronze.
• Highmark will offer 18 plans – three platinum, six gold, three silver, five bronze and one catastrophic.
• Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc. and Dominion Dental Services, Inc. will offer 12 stand-alone dental plans on the marketplace. Of those plans, seven will have lower premiums and higher care costs, while five will have higher premiums and lower costs of care.

Every plan on the marketplace will feature a number of additional benefits, including coverage of pre-existing conditions, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control and breastfeeding coverage.

Coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status.