Indiana CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program

Last verified: June 2026

Informational overview of Indiana CHIP

For current eligibility thresholds and enrollment, visit https://www.in.gov/medicaid. CHIP and Medicaid applications are processed together in most states — apply once and both programs are considered.

Indiana's CHIP program is called Hoosier Healthwise — covers children in families up to 250% FPL

Indiana's children's health coverage program is Hoosier Healthwise. It covers uninsured children in families with income up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($78,500/year for a family of four in 2025). Apply at fssabenefits.in.gov or call 877-438-4479.

What is Hoosier Healthwise?

Hoosier Healthwise is Indiana's combined Medicaid and CHIP program for children and pregnant women. It is administered by the FSSA (Family and Social Services Administration) and delivered through managed care plans. Children enrolled in Hoosier Healthwise receive comprehensive health coverage with no or low premiums depending on income.

Indiana's CHIP component covers children in Package C (CHIP-funded children between 200% and 250% FPL). Children at lower income levels are covered through the Medicaid component of Hoosier Healthwise. Both components use the same managed care plans and benefit structure — from the member's perspective, there is little practical difference between the Medicaid and CHIP portions of Hoosier Healthwise.

Indiana's CHIP program is a CHIP Medicaid expansion program, meaning it uses the Medicaid infrastructure and enrollment process rather than a separate standalone program.

Hoosier Healthwise income eligibility

Population	Income Limit	Program component
Children 0–18	Up to 250% FPL	Medicaid (0–200%) + CHIP (200–250%)
Pregnant women	Up to 208% FPL	Medicaid for pregnancy
Parents/caretakers	See HIP eligibility	HIP program, not Hoosier Healthwise

Source: Indiana FSSA Hoosier Healthwise program documentation; KFF State Health Facts. FPL dollar amounts change annually. Verify current limits at in.gov/fssa or fssabenefits.in.gov.

What Hoosier Healthwise covers for children

Children enrolled in Hoosier Healthwise receive comprehensive coverage under the federal EPSDT mandate. Benefits include:

Doctor visits — well-child checkups, sick visits, specialist referrals
Dental — comprehensive coverage including preventive, restorative, and emergency
Vision — eye exams, glasses
Mental health and behavioral health services
Prescription drugs
Hospital care — inpatient and outpatient
Emergency room services
Lab tests and X-rays
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

Premiums and cost sharing

Hoosier Healthwise has no premiums for children at or below 150% FPL. Children in families between 150% and 250% FPL may have small monthly premiums. Premiums for CHIP-funded children are capped under federal law (42 CFR 457.520) — no family pays more than 5% of their annual income in Medicaid and CHIP costs combined.

There are no co-pays for most children's preventive services. Some co-pays may apply for non-emergency use of the emergency room and certain specialist visits depending on age and income. Contact your Hoosier Healthwise managed care plan for details.

How to enroll a child in Hoosier Healthwise

Apply for Hoosier Healthwise through the FSSA Benefits Portal at fssabenefits.in.gov, by calling 877-438-4479, or in person at your local Division of Family Resources office. Newborns born to a Medicaid-enrolled mother are automatically enrolled at birth — parents should confirm enrollment with FSSA within 60 days. Children who lose other insurance coverage qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

What CHIP is

CHIP — the Children's Health Insurance Program — is a federal-state partnership that covers children in families whose income is too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Congress created CHIP in 1997 under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Like Medicaid, CHIP is jointly funded by the federal government and each state, and each state administers its own program.

CHIP serves children up to age 19 (some states cover to 21 for children in foster care). It is not available to adults — CHIP is specifically designed to address the coverage gap for children in working families.

Nationally, CHIP covers approximately 7 million children, according to CMS data. In most states, it is a seamless part of the broader children's health coverage system alongside Medicaid.

What CHIP covers

Federal law requires CHIP to cover certain core benefits. States may add to the list. Standard CHIP coverage includes:

Doctor visits, including well-child checkups and sick visits
Hospital care — inpatient and outpatient
Emergency room and urgent care services
Prescription drug coverage
Mental health and substance use disorder services
Dental care — preventive and restorative
Vision care, including eye exams and glasses
Laboratory and imaging services
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
Medical equipment, such as wheelchairs or hearing aids when medically necessary

How to apply for Indiana CHIP

Apply through Indiana Medicaid (Healthy Indiana Plan) — the same application covers both Medicaid and CHIP. Online applications are typically fastest and allow document uploads. You can also apply by phone or in person at a local eligibility office.

See the how to apply page for the complete application process, required documents, and what to expect during review.

CHIP and Medicaid income ranges overlap — apply regardless

If you're not sure whether your child qualifies for Medicaid or CHIP, apply anyway. The eligibility system determines which program applies based on your income. A child who earns out of Medicaid may qualify for CHIP, and vice versa. Don't let uncertainty about which program applies prevent you from applying.