Starting Jan. 1, 2027, low-income adults enrolled in Indiana's Healthy Indiana Plan who are ages 19 to 64, are not pregnant and are not enrolled in or eligible for Medicare will need to prove they're working, volunteering or attending school at least 80 hours a month to keep their health coverage, unless they qualify for an exemption. State officials estimate that about 58,000 Hoosiers could lose coverage because they currently aren't meeting the requirement, and Indianapolis residents can get free help sorting out what it means for them at two upcoming sessions: Oct. 28 at The Porch and Nov. 7 at Shepherd Community Center.
The Healthy Indiana Plan covers low-income adults between the ages of 19 and 64, and the new rule applies to members who are not pregnant and are not enrolled in or eligible for Medicare, unless they qualify for an exemption, according to Mirror Indy. Beginning in January, members generally must document at least 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, school attendance or other qualifying activity to retain their benefits. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has said about 58,000 Hoosiers could lose coverage next year because they aren't currently meeting the requirement, per the agency's own estimate.
Who Could Be Affected
The scope of the rule is far broader than the 58,000 figure suggests. As many as 300,000 Hoosiers could ultimately be subject to the work requirements once exemptions are factored in, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Some people will need to show they qualify for an exemption from the requirements altogether, while others can satisfy the rule by earning at least $580 a month, the outlet reports.
Indiana also gives residents a way to check their own status ahead of time. The state offers a screening tool people can use to see whether the work requirements apply to them at all, a step Mirror Indy recommends taking before attending an in-person session. The Indiana HIP Work Requirement Screener is available online for anyone unsure where they stand.
More Frequent Reviews Ahead
The work requirement isn't the only change coming to the Healthy Indiana Plan. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, participants will also undergo formal eligibility redeterminations at least every six months instead of annually, the Capital Chronicle reported in a separate account of the rule changes. Because the state will look back at the previous three months of activity when reviewing compliance, beneficiaries may effectively need to start documenting qualifying hours as early as October 2026.
Advocates have raised concerns that the shortened review cycle could create new obstacles even for people who qualify for coverage. The added administrative burden could make it harder for eligible people to stay enrolled if they misunderstand notices, miss deadlines or don't receive information requests, according to the same Capital Chronicle report. A spring survey of Medicaid enrollees also reported on awareness of the 2027 work requirements and whether respondents would ration medications if they lost coverage.
Help Sessions Set For Late October And Early November
Shepherd Community Center is hosting events to answer questions about the work requirements and how to report hours, with sessions planned on two dates in Indianapolis. On Oct. 28, information sessions are scheduled for 9 to 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 to 10:45 a.m. at The Porch, located at 4105 E. Washington St., with drop-in question hours running from 9 a.m. to noon at the same location.
A second round of sessions follows on Nov. 7 at Shepherd Community Center itself, 4107 E. Washington St., with information sessions set for 11 to 11:15 a.m. and noon to 12:15 p.m., plus drop-in help from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is not required for either date. Organizers suggest attendees bring their own laptop or cell phone if possible, though the center will provide a limited number of laptops for on-site use.
What The State's Own Rules Say
Indiana's own guidance backs up the timeline and the hour requirement circulating in local reporting. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration states that, beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Indiana Medicaid will begin enforcing work requirements for both new applicants and existing members eligible under the Healthy Indiana Plan. A state provider bulletin further specifies that HIP members who don't meet an exemption will be required to complete 80 hours of work or community engagement each month to keep their coverage, while an official eligibility notice confirms that members may need to meet the requirement starting Jan. 1, 2027, to retain benefits.
For context on how enrollment scrutiny has evolved, a Paragon Health Institute analysis cited by the Capital Chronicle estimated that 267,185 of Indiana's 572,088 Medicaid expansion enrollees in 2024 — about 47% — were improperly enrolled, underscoring the compliance questions now driving the state's shift toward stricter verification. The state says it will review compliance with the new work requirements at least every six months going forward.
This report draws on original coverage from WISH-TV, which cited reporting by Mirror Indy health reporter Mary Claire Molloy. Mirror Indy is a nonprofit newsroom funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
