Delaware

Delaware could join other states in requiring health insurance carriers to cover abortion

Published

6 months ago

May 24, 2024

Delaware could join other states in requiring health insurance carriers to cover abortion

Delaware could become the 18th state to direct Medicaid to pay for abortion services and the 5th state to require state-regulated private health plans to do the same.

In April, House Majority Leader Melissa Minor Brown’s (D-New Castle) legislation requiring Medicaid to cover termination of pregnancies cleared the House Appropriations Committee.

She has since substituted that bill with a new version requiring all health benefit plans delivered or issued for Medicaid, private health insurance plans and state employee insurance plans to cover abortion in Delaware.

The bill requires that patients seeking pregnancy termination are not subject to any deductible, copayment or coinsurance up to the $750 coverage maximum.

The bill outlines an exception for religious employers if the coverage requirement “conflicts with the religious organization’s bona fide religious beliefs and practices,” but exclusions are not applicable for termination of pregnancies that are necessary to preserve the life or health of a covered individual.

House Minority Whip Lyndon Yearick (R-Magnolia) joined several of his colleagues in arguing the state does not mandate insurance providers to cover or provide the same cost-share exemptions to other elected health services.

“The requirement to mandate that every entity must provide this elective service and no questions asked unless they’re a faith based institution — I’m disappointed in that. I’m sure there’s very few elective services that we require other companies through their healthcare to provide,” Yearick said.

“I think that it is unfair to force taxpayers who are opposed to this procedure to have to pay for that procedure,” State Rep. Charles Postles (R-Milford) added.

Republicans went on to argue this requirement would only add to the state’s ballooning healthcare spending, noting the bill carries roughly a $500,000 annual fiscal note.

But Minor Brown said there will be back-end cost saving measures, saying women denied abortion services often lacked the means to cover basic living expenses years following the denial and saw lowered credit scores, increased debt and negative public financial records.

“When you deny a person access to essential healthcare — look at the impact after that. So the woman who’s utilizing Medicaid, and now you’re not allowing her that right to choose because you don’t want to pay for it. But you’d rather her stay on Medicaid, continue utilizing state resources and maybe even with the extra person or two, which — to me — costs more. So just make it make sense,” Minor Brown said.

State Rep. Valerie Jones Giltner (R-Georgetown) argued the state doesn’t have the resources to provide this type of coverage, especially by eliminating any cost-share mechanisms.

“We make tough decisions as legislators as far as making sure that Medicaid is available to many throughout the state. And we’re not blocking access to an abortion — that’s already widely available. We’re not even blocking partial payment of it,” Jones Giltner said. “What we’re saying is that to say that there should be no deductible, no copayment, no anything for anybody that gets an abortion, even if they have private insurance — a private payer — is not sound judgement.”

Minor Brown stuck firm in saying providing for preventative measures would ultimately save the state more money.

“We don’t have the money to pay for the after effects when we don’t provide care to people and access to healthcare to people. It’s more expensive on the other end,” Minor Brown responded.

The bill passed with only two Republican representatives defecting and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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Delaware

Autumn’s newest tradition: The Delaware Fall Festival at Battery Park

Published

3 mins ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Autumn’s newest tradition: The Delaware Fall Festival at Battery Park

Sunday’s autumn weather was perfect for the inaugural Delaware Fall Festival.

The event took place at Battery Park in the historic Old New Castle area of New Castle, providing the ideal setting for a community gathering and a worthy cause.

The free event was organized to raise funds and awareness for the New Castle Outdoor Recreation Coalition’s planned expansion of the park’s playground. Phase 2 of the Battery Park Playground Project will feature a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel, the Swedish flagship that brought settlers who established the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley in 1638.

The festival featured live entertainment, children’s activities, and various food vendors.

Renee Duval, a three-year resident of New Castle, attended the festival with her husband and two children. As regular visitors to Battery Park who often stroll the path near Deemers Beach, they were excited to explore the event after hearing about the food trucks, music, and vendors.

Among the vendors was Theresa Batts, owner of Batts Concessions from Hartford County, Maryland, who learned about the festival through social media. She said the timing was perfect. She and her husband prefer to sell on weekends, but it is very hard to find events on a Sunday. And this weekend, they were celebrating their business’s first anniversary. Batts Concessions offered an array of treats, including kettle corn, homemade peanut brittle, various nuts, and cotton candy. When asked how sales were going, Batts replied, “Fantastic. No complaints. We would definitely do it again next year.”

Delaware Fall Festival organizers hope to make this an annual tradition for the historic waterfront community.

You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.

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Delaware

AAA predicts heavy travel over Thanksgiving holiday

Published

8 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

AAA predicts heavy travel over Thanksgiving holiday

For many people, Thanksgiving means full stomachs, full hearts … and full roads.

According to AAA, travel over the Thanksgiving holiday is expected to set records. Jana Tidwell is with AAA.

“Nearly 217,000 Delawareans will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday,” she said. “That’s more than 20% of the population. Of those traveling in Delaware, more than 91% will travel by car.”

Tuesday and Wednesday are likely to be the worst travel days on the roads.

“The challenge with Tuesday and Wednesday is that holiday travelers will be mixing with commuters, especially in the late afternoon time,” Tidwell said.

Tidwell suggests traveling during off-peak times, like early in the mornings or after the evening rush hour. Whenever you travel, Tidwell says to be patient, follow the rules of the road, and avoid distractions like cell phones and eating behind the wheel.

AAA notes the window for holiday travel is longer this year, adding Tuesday before Thanksgiving and the Monday after to their definition of the holiday weekend. Tidwell says that’s because the advent of remote work and changes in school schedules have allowed for more flexibility in travel.

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Delaware

Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for Nov. 23, 2024

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Delaware Lottery Powerball, Play 3 Day winning numbers for Nov. 23, 2024

The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

12-13-34-44-67, Powerball: 08, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 3 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Day: 7-9-1

Night: 8-5-1

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Day: 8-4-2-0

Night: 3-6-9-6

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

02-05-09-20-27-31

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

11-20-21-26-31, Lucky Ball: 07

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

02-08-10-14-49, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Day: 9-3-5-9-8

Night: 9-9-6-1-6

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.

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