Indiana CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
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.
250% FPL
Hoosier Healthwise children's income limit
$7,012.50/mo
Income limit, family of 4 (effective March 2026)
~150–250% FPL
CHIP-funded income band (Package C)
Indiana's CHIP program is Hoosier Healthwise — a combined Medicaid and CHIP program
Indiana's children's health coverage program is Hoosier Healthwise, administered by FSSA and delivered through managed care plans. It covers uninsured children in families with income up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $7,012.50/month for a family of 4, effective March 2026). Indiana's CHIP component (Package C) applies once family income exceeds roughly 150% FPL and continues up to 250% FPL; children below that are covered through the Package A Medicaid component. Both use the same managed care plans and benefit structure.
What is Hoosier Healthwise?
Indiana's CHIP component covers children in Package C — CHIP-funded children roughly between 150% and 250% FPL, based on FSSA's premium schedule. Children at lower income levels are covered through Package A, 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
FPL dollar amounts change annually — verify current limits at in.gov/fssa or fssabenefits.in.gov.
| Population | Income limit | Program component |
|---|---|---|
| Children 0–18 | Up to 250% FPL | Medicaid Package A (lower incomes) + CHIP Package C (~150–250%) |
| Pregnant women | Up to 208% FPL | Medicaid for pregnancy |
| Parents/caretakers | See HIP eligibility | HIP program, not Hoosier Healthwise |
Children 0–18
- Income limit
- Up to 250% FPL
- Program component
- Medicaid Package A (lower incomes) + CHIP Package C (~150–250%)
Pregnant women
- Income limit
- Up to 208% FPL
- Program component
- Medicaid for pregnancy
Parents/caretakers
- Income limit
- See HIP eligibility
- Program component
- HIP program, not Hoosier Healthwise
What Hoosier Healthwise covers for children
Children enrolled in Hoosier Healthwise receive comprehensive coverage under the federal EPSDT mandate.
- 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 Package C (roughly 150%–250% FPL) pay a small monthly premium that rises with income — per FSSA's published premium chart, this has ranged from about $22 to $53 per month for a single CHIP child, or $33 to $70 per month for multiple CHIP children in the family, depending on income tier. 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 nationally
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. Nationally, CHIP covers approximately 7 million children, according to CMS data.
Indiana Medicaid (Healthy Indiana Plan)
- FSSA Benefits Portal: fssabenefits.in.gov
- FSSA phone line: 877-438-4479
Related guides
For Pregnant Women
Coverage, income rules, and postpartum benefits during pregnancy.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →What Medicaid Covers
The services every state must cover, plus benefits that vary by state.
Read more →