How to get Indiana Medicaid through HIP or low-cost care

What the Healthy Indiana Plan is

The Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP, is the way Indiana covers working-age adults on Medicaid. The Family and Social Services Administration, called FSSA, runs it. According to KFF, a health policy research group, Indiana began its expansion on February 1, 2015.

FSSA says HIP covers Hoosiers ages 19 to 64 who meet income limits. The agency lists these yearly limits for 2026.

• One person can earn up to $22,026.
• A couple can earn up to $29,870.40.
• A family of four can earn up to $45,546.

These amounts are about 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which is the government's yearly dollar line for poverty. The state updates these limits each year, so ask FSSA for the newest numbers. If you want to check whether you qualify, call 877-438-4479, which is 877-GET-HIP9.

What is a POWER account?

HIP has an unusual feature called a POWER account. FSSA describes it as a special savings account that members use to pay for health care. Members make a monthly payment into it, and the amount depends on family income. FSSA says the payments are between $1 and $20, but may be higher for members who smoke.

The account is used to pay for the first $2,500 in health care costs each year. Ask FSSA how your payment works and what happens if you miss one. Our Medicaid eligibility guide explains the other Medicaid groups.

How to apply

You can apply for Medicaid at any time of year. The state's online application is on the FSSA benefits portal. You can also go in person to a Division of Family Resources office, often called DFR, or call DFR at 1-800-403-0864. If you would rather use paper, ask for a form by mail.

Our guide to how to apply for Medicaid explains which papers to have ready. A trained enrollment helper can also guide you through the form. The Indiana Primary Health Care Association says it supports the people who do this work, so a health center is a good place to ask.

The January 2027 work rule, with a three-month look back

In July 2026, FSSA announced how it will phase in the federal work rule for HIP. The rule starts January 1, 2027, for new applicants and for renewals that begin on or after that date. It applies to HIP members ages 19 to 64 who are not pregnant and do not have Medicare.

Members must log 80 hours a month of work, job training, school at least half-time, volunteering or a mix. Earning at least $580 a month also counts, which is 80 hours at the federal minimum wage.

A person who applies in January 2027 must show they met the rule in October, November and December of 2026. Later applicants show the three months before they apply. If you plan to apply in January 2027, your hours from October 2026 already count. FSSA will review compliance each quarter, and it checks wage and program records first. It asks for papers when it cannot confirm.

A person is exempt for a month if they qualify for at least one day that month. Exempt groups include people who are pregnant or within 12 months after pregnancy. They also include parents or caregivers of a child 13 or younger and people in drug or alcohol treatment. Our Medicaid work requirement guide explains more about who is exempt.

Tips for staying covered

FSSA asks members to report changes in work, school, health or family within 10 days. You can do that on the benefits portal, by mail, in person at your local DFR office, or by phone. DFR offices are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except state holidays.

Open every letter from FSSA the day it comes. Keep your pay stubs and class papers in one folder, because FSSA asks for papers when it cannot confirm your hours from its own records.

If you earn too much for HIP

You can compare private plans on HealthCare.gov and see whether you get a tax credit. A tax credit is a government payment that cuts your monthly plan cost. The extra credits from a pandemic-era law ended after 2025, so that boost is gone. The 400 percent of poverty cap is back for 2026. Our guide on health insurance without a job covers your choices after a layoff.

Health centers and checking a doctor

The Indiana Primary Health Care Association represents the state's community health centers, and its site also has a directory of member dental clinics. These centers charge by income and family size. To find the closest one, try the free Find a Health Center tool from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, called HRSA. Enter your zip code to see the sites near you.

The Medical Licensing Board of Indiana has a Look up a Doctor tool for patients. It also has a page for disciplinary information. The board does not keep records of hospital actions, federal actions or criminal convictions.

Direct primary care and emergencies

Some doctors in Indiana charge a set monthly fee for primary care, and this is called direct primary care. A flat monthly fee for visits is not insurance, and it does not pay for a hospital stay. Our directory is a place to start looking for cash-pay doctors. Before you join, ask what the fee covers and whether lab tests cost extra. Get the price in writing, and keep a copy of the agreement you sign.

When a problem could threaten your life or a limb, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Federal law says the hospital must examine and stabilize you, whatever your insurance status.