HIP provides health insurance for uninsured adult Hoosiers between the ages of 19 and 64 whose household income is 22 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level and who are not eligible for Medicaid.

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS (May 23, 2008) - The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced that 10,000 Hoosiers now have health insurance under Governor Daniels' Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). Since the state began processing applications on December 17, 2007, 47,941 applications have been received, with 6,801 waiting to make their first payment and 10,058 already receiving coverage.

"We're off to a great start in just a few short months, and many people who previously didn't have coverage now have affordable health insurance. We've got more work to do to get more Hoosiers enrolled," said Governor Mitch Daniels.

HIP provides health insurance for uninsured adult Hoosiers between the ages of 19 and 64 whose household income is 22 to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), and who are not eligible for Medicaid. Eligible participants must be uninsured for at least 6 months and cannot be eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance.

Shelley Ross was one of HIP's first enrollees. Since obtaining her coverage, she's had the cataract surgery that she once thought was financially out of reach.

"I had my surgery in January and was able to see out of my right eye again as soon as I was wheeled out of the operating room," said Ross. "It's amazing and I am grateful for the work that is being done to help fill a serious gap in our healthcare system."

Each HIP recipient is provided with a $1,100 Personal Wellness and Responsibility Account (POWER) account to pay for medical costs. Contributions to the account are made by the state and each participant, based on ability to pay. No participant will pay more than 5 percent of his/her gross family income on the plan. Once medical costs exceed $1,100, individuals have access to a basic commercial benefits package. HIP is funded in large part by a cigarette tax increase passed during the 2007 legislative session.

"Thanks to tremendous bi-partisan support from the legislature, including Representative Charlie Brown (D-Gary) and Senator Pat Miller (R-Indianapolis), we are on our way to a healthier Indiana," said FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob. "We have HIP members in every county in this state, and we hope this widespread outreach will continue."

For more information on HIP or to apply, call 1-877-GET-HIP9 (877-438-4479) or visit www.hip.in.gov. For more information on FSSA, go to www.in.gov/fssa.

Source: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration