If you or your family member is on Delaware Medicaid and needs a wheelchair ramp, grab bars, or another accessibility change, there is a specific benefit for that. Delaware Medicaid is run by the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA), part of Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS). Long-term care benefits come through Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus), a managed care program that folds home and community-based services (HCBS) into your regular Medicaid plan. DSHP-Plus covers a "minor home modification" benefit, capped at $6,000 per project, $10,000 per year, and $20,000 over your lifetime, verified July 2026.
What Delaware offers#
Most states run this kind of help through a stand-alone Section 1915(c) HCBS waiver. Delaware works differently. In 2014, the state folded its former separate HCBS waivers, including the former Elderly and Disabled Waiver, into DSHP-Plus, a Section 1115 managed care demonstration. The long-term care piece of DSHP-Plus is called Long Term Care Community Services (LTCCS). There is no stand-alone LTCCS waiver to apply for. If you qualify for DSHP-Plus long-term care, LTCCS services, including home modifications, are simply part of your regular Medicaid plan.
Instead of a state office approving each project, DSHP-Plus benefits are delivered through Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs): AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware, Highmark Health Options, and Delaware First Health. You choose one of these plans, or one is assigned to you, and that plan authorizes and pays for your covered services.
The LTCCS minor home modification service covers wheelchair ramps, interior and exterior handrails on stairs or steps, grab bars, doorway widening, and bathroom-facility modifications. These are approved to protect health, welfare, and safety, or to increase mobility and accessibility at home. Verified July 2026.
Amounts and eligibility#
The LTCCS minor home modification benefit is capped at $6,000 per project, $10,000 per year, and $20,000 over your lifetime. This is consistently reported across independent sourcing, verified July 2026. Confirm the current amount with your MCO care coordinator before starting a project.
Financial eligibility uses a different threshold than the special income rule many states apply. Rather than a 300% standard, Delaware sets its limit at 250% of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Federal Benefit Rate. That is about $2,485 per month for an individual in 2026. The asset limit is the standard $2,000 for an individual. DMMA determines whether you qualify financially and medically; nothing here guarantees eligibility.
One more point worth knowing: Delaware does not maintain a waitlist or enrollment cap for LTCCS. When the state folded its former separate waivers into DSHP-Plus in 2014, it also removed the old enrollment limits. If you meet the financial and functional criteria, you are enrolled without waiting for a slot to open, verified July 2026.
How to apply in Delaware#
Start with the DMMA Central Intake Unit (CIU) at 1-866-940-8963. The CIU handles the financial and functional assessment that determines whether you qualify for DSHP-Plus long-term care.
Once approved, you choose a Medicaid MCO, or one is assigned to you. For help comparing AmeriHealth Caritas Delaware, Highmark Health Options, and Delaware First Health, call the Health Benefits Manager at 1-800-996-9969. Your MCO care coordinator is who you work with to request a home modification once enrolled.
For general aging services help, contact the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD). In New Castle County, call (302) 453-3820 or (800) 223-9074. In Kent and Sussex Counties, call (302) 424-7310 or (800) 223-9074. The federal Eldercare Locator (eldercare.acl.gov, 1-800-677-1116) is a fallback.
If Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance were already tried and denied or fell short, DSAAPD's Specialized Services Fund (SSF) is a separate, last-resort option. It is a state fund, not a Medicaid benefit, capped at $10,000 over a lifetime per person or residence. Ask about it only after your DSHP-Plus options are exhausted.
How it stacks with federal programs#
If the person needing modifications is a veteran, also check U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) housing grants. Programs like Specially Adapted Housing can fund larger projects alongside DSHP-Plus. See our VA home modification grants guide.
Original Medicare does not cover structural home modifications. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer supplemental benefits like grab bars or ramps, but this is plan-specific with no standard amount. Call your plan to ask what it covers.
Finding a provider who knows this program: Not every contractor has handled DSHP-Plus or LTCCS paperwork. Adapta Home USA verifies providers' Medicaid Waiver Billing experience, so you can filter for pros in Delaware who have done this before. Find Home Modifications & Remodeling providers with Medicaid Waiver Billing experience →
For the bigger picture on combining programs, see our national Medicaid HCBS waiver guide and our full guide to paying for home modifications.
FAQ#
Does Delaware Medicaid pay for home modifications like wheelchair ramps or grab bars?#
Yes. Through DSHP-Plus's Long Term Care Community Services (LTCCS) benefit, Delaware Medicaid covers a "minor home modification" service: wheelchair ramps, interior and exterior handrails, grab bars, doorway widening, and bathroom-facility modifications. The cap is $6,000 per project, $10,000 per year, and $20,000 lifetime, verified July 2026.
What is Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus) and how is it different from a typical state Medicaid waiver?#
Most states cover home modifications through a stand-alone Section 1915(c) HCBS waiver. Delaware instead uses DSHP-Plus, a Section 1115 managed care demonstration that absorbed the state's former separate waivers in 2014. Benefits are delivered through a Medicaid managed care organization rather than a stand-alone waiver.
Is there a waitlist for Delaware's long-term care Medicaid benefits?#
No. Delaware does not maintain a waitlist or enrollment cap for LTCCS. If you meet the financial and functional criteria, you are enrolled without waiting for an open slot, verified July 2026.
What is DSAAPD's Specialized Services Fund, and is it the same as Medicaid?#
No, they are separate. DSAAPD runs the Specialized Services Fund (SSF), a state-funded, last-resort benefit capped at $10,000 over a lifetime per person or residence. DSAAPD only approves SSF funds after Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance were already tried and denied or fell short.
Find a verified provider near you#
Adapta Home USA's directory lets you search Home Modifications & Remodeling providers by state and filter for Medicaid Waiver Billing experience. Our wheelchair ramp cost guide can help you budget while your DSHP-Plus request is reviewed.
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Program amounts, eligibility rules, and application procedures change. Figures on this page were verified against official government sources on the date shown, but you should confirm current details at VA.gov or with the administering agency before making decisions. Adapta Home USA is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency.