Healthy Children Program Application Instructions


To apply for the Delaware Healthy Children Program, you may call DHCP at 1-800-996-9969 to request an application form or if you need any assistance in your application. You may also get the form by downloading it here. After filling it out, you may send it to the address below, along with the proof of your household income, proof of citizenship or legal alien status, and proof of pregnancy (if applicable):

Delaware Healthy Children Program
PO Box 950
New Castle, DE 19720-9914
1-800-996-9969

You may also click here to fill out the application online by using ASSIST or the State of Delaware's Application for Social Service Programs.

Once you have been approved for DHCP, you need to pick a Managed Care Plan (MCP) and then pay the premium for the first month. You will be informed of the date when the insurance coverage starts.

Under the program, you may choose among the Managed Care Plans that have an agreement with Delaware. There are currently three MCPs: the Diamond State Partners, the Unison Health Plan, and the Delaware Physicians Care, Inc.


Eligibility Requirements

The following are the eligibility requirements of the Delaware Healthy Children Program:

  • Must be below 19 years old
  • Must be a citizen of the United States or a qualified non-citizen
  • Must be a resident of the State of Delaware
  • Is not covered by any comprehensive health insurance
  • Is not a dependent of a permanent state employee in Delaware
  • Must meet income requirements

If your child is already covered by a comprehensive health insurance plan, he/she is not eligible for the program. If you voluntarily stop the coverage, your child is still not qualified in the DHCP for six months, unless there is a good cause for the loss of insurance coverage.

An eligible child for the Delaware Healthy Children Program will continue to receive benefits for a 12-month period of continuous eligibility; however, there are instances in which he/she may become ineligible for certain reasons. A child no longer qualifies to receive benefits from the DHCP if he/she:

  • Becomes 19 years old
  • Becomes qualified for Medicaid
  • Obtains a comprehensive insurance coverage
  • Happens to become qualified for the State health benefits plan
  • Dies
  • No longer resides in Delaware
  • Becomes an inmate
  • Does not meet the legal alien status or citizenship anymore