INDIANA — The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has released a comprehensive partner toolkit as state officials begin raising public awareness for new Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) work and community engagement requirements set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Under the updated guidelines, non-exempt HIP members between the ages of 19 and 64 will be required to complete at least 80 hours each month through qualifying activities—including traditional employment, part-time education, job training, internships, or community service—to maintain their healthcare coverage.
Key Requirements & Lookback Window
Participants will be able to combine different activities to reach the 80-hour monthly threshold, or qualify through alternative criteria such as earning a minimum monthly income of $580 or being enrolled at least half-time in an accredited educational program.
State officials noted that Indiana law requires a three-month lookback period before enrollment or annual renewal. As a result, current HIP members with a January 2027 renewal date, or new applicants applying in early 2027, will need to show compliance starting as early as October 2026.
Standard Exemptions
The state has established automatic and verifiable exemptions to ensure coverage continues for vulnerable populations. HIP members may be exempt from the 80-hour requirement if they are:
- Pregnant (or up to 12 months post-pregnancy)
- Caregivers for a child age 13 or younger, or a family member with a disability
- Medically frail or managing a serious physical, intellectual, or mental health condition
- Participating in an active substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program
- Recently released from incarceration (within the past 90 days)
Outreach and Partner Resources
To ensure smooth communication across local communities, the FSSA is encouraging healthcare providers, community organizations, and regional advocates to utilize the newly launched FSSA HIP Work Requirements Partner Toolkit.
The toolkit provides standardized messaging, social media graphics, printable flyers, detailed FAQs, and informational explainer videos. Additional resources and outreach guidance will be continually added to the portal in the months leading up to the rollout.
Informational notices regarding the new work requirements are being mailed to current HIP members. State officials strongly urge all members to log into myfssa.in.gov to create or update their Benefits Portal account, which will serve as the primary platform for reporting monthly hours, checking exemption statuses, and submitting required documentation.
