Healthcare Assistance for Single Mothers in Indiana

Where to start

Start with your most urgent need. You do not have to know the program name before asking for help. Indiana’s Division of Family Resources handles eligibility for Medicaid, Hoosier Healthwise, HIP, SNAP, and TANF. You can apply online or use the DFR office locator if you need local help.

Quick reference

Indiana Medicaid programs for single mothers

Indiana Medicaid is not one single program. It has different coverage groups. The rules depend on age, pregnancy, disability, household size, income, and sometimes the kind of care you need. The state says the only way to know for sure is to apply.

Healthy Indiana Plan

The Healthy Indiana Plan, often called HIP, is Indiana’s main Medicaid coverage path for many low-income adults ages 19 to 64. HIP can help with doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, preventive care, and other covered services. Some packages include dental and vision benefits; ask your plan what applies to you.

Indiana’s 2026 HIP chart lists monthly income limits based on household size. For example, the HIP Plus eligibility limit is $1,835.50 for a household of 1, $2,489.20 for 2, $3,141.88 for 3, $3,795.50 for 4, and $4,449.20 for 5. These limits are based on the 2026 federal poverty level and can change.

HIP can include POWER Account payments. Indiana says members may pay one of five monthly amounts: $1, $5, $10, $15, or $20. If you are pregnant, report the pregnancy to your plan because HIP Maternity has different cost rules and benefits.

Hoosier Healthwise and CHIP

Hoosier Healthwise covers many children and pregnant people. Indiana says it covers care such as doctor visits, prescriptions, mental health care, dental care, hospital care, and surgery at little or no cost for many families.

CHIP is part of Hoosier Healthwise for children whose family income is too high for regular Medicaid but still within CHIP rules. Package A generally has no cost sharing. Package C, the CHIP package, may include a monthly premium and small copays.

A child may be eligible even when the parent is not. Do not skip the application because your own income seems too high for adult Medicaid.

Basic 2026 income guide

This table is a quick screen, not a promise. Income is generally before taxes, not take-home pay. Household rules can be different for tax filers, non-filers, pregnancy, disability, and other cases.

For a national overview of Medicaid and CHIP, see ASMOM’s Medicaid guide.

Pregnancy and child health help

If you are pregnant, tell DFR, your doctor, and your health plan as soon as possible. The unborn child can count in household size for pregnancy Medicaid. If you already have HIP, the HIP Maternity program can change your benefits during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

If you need prenatal care before a full Medicaid decision, a qualified provider may be able to screen you for Presumptive Eligibility for Pregnant Women. Indiana says this can cover doctor visits, tests, lab work, prenatal care, prescription drugs, and transportation to doctor appointments, but it does not cover labor and delivery costs.

Indiana Medicaid says pregnant women may receive coverage through HIP or Hoosier Healthwise. Indiana’s health care reform pregnancy chart says pregnant women with household income at or below 213% of the federal poverty level should apply through the state application, and pregnant women above that level may need to check the Marketplace.

For support beyond insurance, Indiana’s My Healthy Baby program connects pregnant women to local family support providers. For Medicaid members affected by current or past substance use, Pregnancy Promise offers free, voluntary case management during pregnancy and after pregnancy.

For a broader family checklist, see ASMOM’s pregnancy help guide.

WIC and baby support

Indiana WIC helps pregnant women, breastfeeding women, postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC can provide healthy foods, nutrition help, breastfeeding support, and referrals. The WIC eligibility page says families receiving Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF are income-eligible for Indiana WIC, but they still must meet other WIC rules.

Call Indiana WIC at 1-800-522-0874 or ask a clinic to connect you. If groceries are tight, also read ASMOM’s SNAP guide. WIC is not the same as SNAP. WIC covers specific foods and nutrition support. SNAP is broader grocery help.

Moms Helpline can also help with doctor locators, health insurance, diapers, formula, home visiting, and local resources. It may be a good call if you are pregnant, newly postpartum, or trying to connect a child to care.

If you have no insurance or are over Medicaid limits

If Medicaid says no, you still have options. Use Find a Health Center to look for federally supported clinics. These clinics often provide primary care, prenatal care, pediatric care, behavioral health care, and sometimes dental care. Fees may be based on income.

Indiana uses the federal Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Outside open enrollment, you may still qualify for a special enrollment period after certain life changes, such as losing coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.

If the forms feel confusing, use a certified navigator. Indiana says certified navigators can help people through the enrollment process. They should not charge you for help.

Some hospitals and clinics also have financial assistance policies. Ask the billing office for the plain-language financial aid policy before you set up a payment plan. Do not put a hospital bill on a credit card before asking for charity care, Medicaid billing, or a discount.

Rides, prescriptions, dental, and special care

If you have Traditional Medicaid and need a covered ride to a non-emergency medical appointment, Indiana uses Verida. The state Verida transportation page says members should call 855-325-7586 at least two business days before the appointment. Emergency transportation is not scheduled through Verida; call 911 for emergencies.

If you are in HIP, Hoosier Healthwise, Hoosier Care Connect, or another managed care plan, call your health plan for ride rules, provider networks, pharmacy questions, and prior authorization. Use the state Medicaid contacts page to find member services.

Dental coverage depends on the program and age. Children in Hoosier Healthwise often have stronger dental benefits than adults. If you need low-cost dental care, use ASMOM’s dental help guide and ask your Medicaid plan for in-network dentists accepting new patients.

For breast and cervical cancer screening, Indiana’s IN-BCCP program helps eligible underserved and underinsured people get screening and diagnostic services. If treatment is needed after screening, ask how Medicaid treatment coverage works.

If you only need family planning services and do not qualify for full Medicaid, ask DFR about the Family Planning Eligibility Program. It is limited coverage, so it will not replace full health insurance.

Documents and information to gather

You can start an application even if you do not have every paper. Still, missing proof is one of the most common reasons a case gets delayed. Keep copies of anything you upload, mail, or drop off. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help if you are applying for several programs.

What to do if denied, delayed, or stuck

If your application is denied or your coverage is reduced, read the notice before you call. Look for the reason, the date, what proof is missing, and the appeal deadline. Indiana’s member appeals page says members have the right to appeal eligibility decisions and some care decisions.

If the problem is a missing document, upload or deliver it and keep proof. If the problem is a health plan denial, ask the plan for the written denial and appeal steps. If the issue involves a hospital bill, call the hospital billing office and ask whether Medicaid can be billed retroactively or whether financial assistance is available.

The state FSSA appeals page says Medicaid eligibility appeals can be made by contacting DFR by phone at 800-403-0864, by fax at 888-436-9199, or through a local DFR office. For a plain-language plan, use ASMOM’s benefits problem guide.

For non-medical problems that affect your health, such as food, rent, heat, or child care, use ASMOM’s local resource guide, Indiana housing help, and LIHEAP guide.

Useful Indiana resources

• Benefits and Medicaid: apply online, use DFR contact options, or visit a local DFR office.
• Health plan questions: call the member services number on your card or use the state Medicaid contact list.
• Pregnancy and baby help: Moms Helpline can help with doctor locators, health insurance, diapers, formula, and local resources.
• Local referrals: Indiana 211 can help you search by ZIP code for health, food, housing, transportation, and crisis resources.