Obviously, this has a home town angle for me. (And it’s amazing that I just wrote “home town” to describe Indiana, but there you go). News:
The federal government has given the green light to an expansion of Indiana’s health program for low-income residents.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have formally approved the “Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0.”
In an announcement Tuesday morning, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence touted the plan as an alternative to traditional Medicaid.
Individuals ages 19 to 64 who make less than $16,105 annually will be eligible to enroll, as well as families of four with an income of $32,913 or less.
Pence said the plan could provide coverage to as many as 350,000 uninsured Hoosiers.
There are two tiers. One is HIP Basic, which is basically free, but would require co-pays. The other is HIP Plus, and has a cost, but adds in dental and vision. I wrote about all of this at The Upshot last year:
Governor Pence’s proposal, HIP 2.0, compromises by creating three options. The first, HIP Link, would provide premium assistance to low-income people who have access to employer-based insurance but cannot afford it. Option two, HIP Basic, will be more like HIP, but be available with no contribution to premiums to those earning below the poverty line. HIP Plus will include dental and vision coverage, and it will require monthly contributions between $3 and $25, depending on income, to a health savings account.
Go read that. I’m impressed, Indiana.
