Indiana Medicaid Income Guidelines

One in every seven Indiana residents, or about 800,000 individuals, receives Medicaid benefits in Indiana. The state offers multiple programs, and most of the state's Medicaid programs require that applicants meet qualifications. These qualifications include income guidelines identifying the maximum income allowed by those who wish to receive Medicaid benefits. Individuals and families who earn more than the maximum are not eligible for Medicaid coverage.

Facts

• Indiana offers a range of health care plans administered by the state's Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning. Income guidelines differ from plan to plan. Some plans have no income guidelines. Most, though, feature a sliding scale that is largely based on the number of individuals in a family. A family of four generally is allowed to earn more per year than a single adult with no children. Some programs allow deductions from your income. For example, one type of coverage allows you to deduct up to $200 per month for childcare costs.

Types

• One of Indiana's Medicaid programs, Hoosier Healthwise, services more than 450,000 children and pregnant women in the state. The Healthy Indiana Plan serves adults age 19 to 64. Hoosier Rx is a program that assists thousands of low-income seniors with the cost of buying prescription drugs. The state also features a program that provides benefits to individuals at risk for placement in institutions. The program is designed to allow them to continue living in the general population. It has no income guidelines.

Healthy Indiana Plan

• This plan is only available to adults who have gone at least six months without coverage. To be eligible, individuals must earn less than twice the federal poverty level. In September 2009, this meant a single adult could earn no more than $21,660 a year to be eligible and a family of four could earn no more than $44,100, which equals $3,675 per month. Some income levels require payment of a small monthly fee. The coverage does not require an asset disclosure.

Hoosier Healthwise

• Designed for pregnant women and anyone younger than 19 years of age, this plan features three tiers. Package A provides coverage for pregnant women and children from low-income families. According to limits updated on March 1, 2009, a family of four could earn no more than $346.50 per month and have assets totaling no more than $1,000 to qualify for pregnancy care. Unborn children are included in the count. To receive Package A coverage for children, a family of four can earn no more than $2,757 per month. Those who qualify pay no monthly premium.

  Pregnant women also can receive some coverage benefits under Package B. To qualify, a family of four can earn no more than $3,675 per month. Children whose families do not qualify for premium-free coverage can still obtain low-cost coverage under Hoosier Healthwise under Package C. A family of four can earn as much as $4,594 per month and still qualify for Package C coverage.

Hoosier Rx

• To qualify for this Indiana prescription drug benefits program, residents must be at least 65 years old and meet low-income guidelines. According to the state's Medicaid administration, a single individual can qualify if they earn $16,485 per year or less. A married couple living in the same home can earn up to $22,095 per year. Applicants also must apply and be denied full benefits through the Medicare Part D program associated with Social Security.

Warning

• Lying to the government in order to obtain Medicaid coverage is a serious crime. In April 2009, one Indiana resident was sentenced to 43 months in prison after pleading guilty to Medicaid fraud. The case featured a six-month investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Lying about your income constitutes fraud.