Indiana Health Insurance Guide

Personal Health Quotes

low-cost health insurance

Indiana Health Insurance Information, Health Organizations and Resources and access to online health insurance quotes

As an Indiana resident you can choose from health insurance plans provided to individuals and groups by private insurance carriers. Eligible individuals and families may also take advantage of low-cost and no-cost health insurance offered by Indiana State-funded programs, as well as government-sponsored programs such as Medicaid, COBRA and the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan (PCIP).

Indiana Guaranteed Issue Policy
Indiana is not a guaranteed issue state for individuals. That means private insurers are not required to sell health insurance to individuals who do not meet their underwriting criteria. You may be turned down, asked to pay a higher premium or offered limited coverage because of a pre-existing condition (see Indiana and the Affordable Care Act below for exceptions regarding pre-existing conditions). When you renew your individual policy, the insurer has the right to increase your premiums based on age and other factors. All small group policies are guarantee issue.

Indiana Guaranteed Renewal Policy.
Indiana is a guaranteed renewal state. While your insurance company has the right to increase the premiums on your individual health care policy based on age and other factors, they cannot cancel your policy as long as you pay your premiums, do not defraud the insurers, and in the case of some managed health programs, do not move out of the coverage area. If your Illinois health insurance is provided through an employer’s group plan, your coverage cannot be canceled or subject to higher premiums because of your health.

Indiana and the Affordable Care Act of 2010
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has no direct impact on individual state mandates, however it may have significant impact on some aspects of your health care. As of September 23, 2010:

Insurers can no longer impose pre-existing condition exclusions on children under age 19. The ban includes both benefit limitations and outright denial of coverage. These protections apply to all types of insurance except individual policies that are grandfathered. Beginning in 2014, these protections will be extended to all ages.
ACA eliminates the use of lifetime benefit caps on such essential services as ambulatory patient care, hospitalization, emergency services, chronic disease management, lab services, maternity and newborn care, preventive and wellness care, and prescription drugs.
Health insurance providers must provide full coverage for preventive health care recommended by the Centers for Disease control including immunizations.
New ACA rules make emergency services more accessible by prohibiting health plans and insurers from charging higher copayments or coinsurance for emergency services obtained out of a plan network.
ACA allows children under age 26 to stay on their parents’ family policy or be added to it. Grandfathered group plans can limit this benefit to adult children who do not have any other offer of employment-based coverage.

A number of additional ACA mandates are scheduled to go into effect in 2014. Indiana has adopted broad implementation of ACA insurance provisions.

Indiana State Mandated Health Benefits
Indiana currently has a number of state-mandated benefits that exceed ACA requirements and that private providers must provide or offer in health insurance policies, depending on plan. They currently include:

Alcoholism
Autism
Breast reconstruction
Cervical cancer and HPV screening
Cleft palate
Colorectal cancer screening
Continuation/employees and conversion to non-groups
Drug abuse treatment
Dental anesthesia
Diabetes supplies and self management
Emergency services
Newborn and adopted children coverage under parent's policy
Student and handicapped dependents under parent’s policy

Private Health Care Options in Illinois
Individuals and small businesses in Indiana may chose from a variety of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO); Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) and Point-of-Service (POS) plans.

For Individuals and Families –There is a 12-month look-back period and a maximum 10-year exclusionary period for pre-existing conditions for applicants without proof of prior creditable coverage. Elimination riders are not permitted. Eligibility is subject to medical underwriting. If you are denied coverage because of a medical condition, you may be eligible for coverage through Indiana Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (ICHIA), Healthy Indiana Plan or PCIP. Plan costs including premiums, copayments and coinsurance will vary. There are no caps on individual plan rates. As of 2011, residents applying for ICHIA must first apply for the federal Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) or the Healthy Indiana insurance program..

For Small Businesses (2 – 50 employees) – There is a maximum 6-month look-back period and a maximum 9-month exclusionary period for pre-existing conditions for enrollees without prior creditable coverage. Pre-existing conditions are covered. Employees must work a minimum of 30 hours per week to be eligible for enrollment. Owner can count as an employee. Costs to employer depend on level of contribution and are +/- 35% of the insurance company’s index rate based on the group’s health status. Renewal increases are limited to 15% per year above original rate.

Public Health Care Programs in Indiana

Indiana Comprehensive Health Insurance Association (ICHIA) – Indiana’s high-risk pool providing comprehensive services for eligible residents, their spouses and dependents.www.ichia.org
Children’s Special Health Care Services –Comprehensive sick and well child care including diagnostic evaluations and treatment for chronic medical conditions for eligible residents.www.in.gov/isdh/19613.htm
Hoosier Healthwise – A variety of plans for pregnant women including neo-natal care for eligible residents.www.in.gov/fssa/ompp/2544.htm
Indiana Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCP) –Screening and diagnostic services for eligible residents.www.in.gov/isdh/
Healthy Indiana Plan – Comprehensive health care and free preventive services for eligible residents.www.in.gov.fassa/hip/
Medicaid -www.in.gov/fssa

Regulating Agencies and Insurance Information Resources
Indiana Department of Insurance
311 West Washington Street, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46294
212.480.6400
www.in.gov/idoi/

(NAIC) National Association of Insurance Commissioners
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is the organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. territories. The NAIC provides a forum for the development of uniform policy when uniformity is appropriate. NAIC members are the elected or appointed state government officials who along with their departments and staff regulate the conduct of insurance companies and agents in their respective state or territory.
http://www.naic.org/

Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I)
The mission of the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) is to improve public understanding of insurance -- what it does and how it works.
Contact info:
110 William Street
New York, NY 10038
212-346-5500
http://www.iii.org/