As many as 300,000 low-income Hoosiers could be subject to Indiana’s new Medicaid work requirements, state officials estimated. The mandate, which takes effect January 1, 2027, requires individuals to document 80 hours of work, school, job training, or volunteer activity in each of the three preceding months.

Exemptions and Concerns

Exemptions include pregnancy, Medicare enrollment, medical frailty, participation in certain drug and alcohol treatment programs, and caring for a dependent child younger than 14. However, lawmakers and health advocates have raised concerns about the compliance and exemption process, particularly for those with fluctuating health conditions.

Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Mitch Roob acknowledged that the process is still being developed, and some parts remain unfinished. The state will check compliance quarterly and conduct full eligibility redeterminations every six months.

Impact on Hoosiers

Estimates from the Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation suggest that 102,000 to 116,000 Hoosiers could lose coverage under the work mandate. The work requirements are part of a broader HIP restructuring, which also includes point-of-service copayments and reduced charges for members who complete recommended preventive care.

Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.