Healthy Indiana Plan includes new work requirement, cautions State Rep. Robin Shackleford

The last thing Hoosiers need is for it to be even harder to get access to the health care they need and deserve. That’s why I am concerned about a major change to the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) scheduled to take effect in 2019.

HIP provides quality health care coverage to nearly 450,000 Hoosiers each year. Governor Holcomb’s administration has implemented a new rule that will require members to work or participate in another qualifying activity in order to maintain membership in the program. This change begins in 2019 and does include exemptions for adults more than 60 years of age, caregivers for a young child and other situations.

The requirement to work or participate in a qualified activity could affect 130,000 Hoosiers currently enrolled in the plan. It’s concerning to me that some residents could face circumstances that are not exempted and be faced with losing health care coverage through no fault of their own. I urge you to visit www.HIP.IN.gov, check your specific situation and take action if needed.

We do have time to influence this situation before the new rule takes effect. The legislature will examine the issue in interim study committees this summer and fall where the public can offer testimony. In addition, you may visit an online petition that was set up to allow citizens to voice displeasure with the new rules.