You can apply for Medicaid in Indiana online through the FSSA Benefits Portal at fssabenefits.in.gov, by mail, by fax, or in person at any county Division of Family Resources office. There is no application fee, and most decisions come within 45 days, or 90 days if you apply based on a disability. Whether you qualify depends mainly on your household income, and, for some categories, your assets.
Who Qualifies
Indiana uses two different eligibility frameworks depending on why you are applying.
Most applicants are evaluated under Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules, which look at taxable income and household size rather than what you own. Categories include children’s coverage, pregnancy-related coverage, parents and caretaker relatives, and the Healthy Indiana Plan for adults ages 19 through 64 who do not qualify under another category. Adults can enroll in the Healthy Indiana Plan if their household income is at or below 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.1Cornell Law School. Indiana Administrative Code 405 IAC 10-4-1 – Eligibility Requirements For 2026, that works out to roughly $21,227 per year for one person or $43,890 for a family of four.2ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States Children and pregnant women typically qualify at higher income thresholds.
If you are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability, the state applies non-MAGI rules that check both your income and your countable assets. An individual generally cannot have more than $2,000 in countable resources, and a married couple is limited to $3,000.3Social Security Administration. 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet Indiana’s definitions and exclusions track the federal SSI standards.4Cornell Law School. Indiana Administrative Code 405 IAC 2-3-14 – Resources, Limitations, and Exclusions Not everything counts. Your primary home, one vehicle, household furnishings, and certain burial funds are typically excluded.
Documents to Gather Before You Start
Having the right paperwork on hand before you apply is the single best way to avoid delays. Pull together:
- A government-issued photo ID and proof of Indiana residency, such as a recent utility bill, lease, or piece of mail showing your address.
- Proof of citizenship or lawful immigration status: a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or immigration papers.
- Social Security numbers for every household member on the application.
- Income verification: at least 30 days of recent pay stubs if you are employed, or the prior year’s tax return if you are self-employed. Include Social Security benefits, child support, pensions, and any other recurring income.
- If you are applying under the aged, blind, or disabled category, asset documentation as well: bank statements, vehicle titles, life insurance policies, and records of other countable resources.
- Details of any current health coverage and medical expenses from the previous three months.
Indiana’s application is State Form 29013. It asks about every member of your household because household size sets your income eligibility threshold. Make sure names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers match your official records exactly. Mismatches cause processing delays.
Four Ways to Submit Your Application
Indiana accepts applications through four channels. There is no fee no matter which you use.
- Online at fssabenefits.in.gov. You can complete the application and upload scanned supporting documents. The portal generates a confirmation number that proves your filing date.
- By mail to the FSSA Document Center, PO Box 1810, Marion, Indiana 46952. Send the completed State Form 29013 with your supporting documents.
- By fax to 1-888-436-9199.
- In person at any county Division of Family Resources office, where staff can accept the application and answer questions.
If you mail or fax your paperwork, keep a copy and any tracking information. The date your application reaches the Document Center or a local office starts the state’s processing clock.
What Happens After You Apply
Federal rules cap how long Indiana can take. Standard applications, including the Healthy Indiana Plan, children’s coverage, and pregnancy-related Medicaid, must be decided within 45 days. Disability-based applications get up to 90 days because the state may need to verify your medical condition.5eCFR. 42 CFR 435.912 – Timely Determination and Redetermination of Eligibility
A caseworker from the Division of Family Resources may call you to clarify information on your application. If the state needs more documents, you will get a written request with its own deadline. Miss that deadline and your application can be denied, so respond quickly.
When a decision is made, you receive a Notice of Action in the mail. It states whether you are approved or denied and explains why. If approved, the notice lists your coverage effective date, which typically reaches back to the first day of the month you applied.
If You Need Medical Care Before Approval
Certain qualified hospitals and other providers can grant temporary Medicaid coverage through presumptive eligibility. A participating hospital reviews basic preliminary information about your income and, if you appear to qualify, enrolls you on the spot.6IN.gov. Providers – Presumptive Eligibility (PE)
Temporary coverage lasts until the state makes a formal decision on your full application, or until the last day of the month following the month presumptive eligibility began if you have not filed a full application by then, whichever comes first. Not every hospital participates, so ask before relying on this route.
Coverage for Medical Bills From Before You Applied
Indiana Medicaid can pay for medical expenses you incurred during the three months before you applied, as long as you would have qualified during those months.7Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy Retroactive coverage applies to most state plan services, including primary care visits and hospital stays.8IN.gov. Retroactive Payments for Waiver Services
Home and community-based waiver services, such as those under the Aged and Disabled waiver or the Traumatic Brain Injury waiver, are not available retroactively. Waiver services can only begin on the date the state approves your eligibility. If you have unpaid bills from the months before you applied, tell your caseworker so the state can determine whether retroactive coverage applies.
If Your Application Is Denied
You have the right to appeal a denial or a reduction in benefits through a fair hearing. Your denial notice states the exact deadline, so read it carefully. You can file an appeal by:
- Phone: 800-403-0864 (Division of Family Resources).
- Fax: 888-436-9199.
- Mail: FSSA Document Center, PO Box 1810, Marion, Indiana 46952.
- In person at your local Division of Family Resources office.
At the hearing you can represent yourself or bring a lawyer, family member, friend, or other representative. You can review your case file beforehand, bring witnesses, present evidence, and cross-examine anyone testifying against you.9eCFR. 42 CFR Part 431 Subpart E – Fair Hearings for Applicants and Beneficiaries If you are already on Medicaid and you appeal before the reduction or termination takes effect, your existing coverage may continue until the hearing decision.
Keeping Your Coverage After Approval
The state redetermines your eligibility every 12 months.10Medicaid.gov. Overview – Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals Before your renewal date, Indiana tries to verify your information using electronic data sources. If it can confirm you still qualify, your coverage renews automatically.
If it cannot, you will get a prepopulated renewal form in the mail. You have at least 30 days from the date it is sent to complete and return it with updated income and household information. Miss that deadline and you can lose coverage even if you still qualify. Between renewals, you are expected to report changes in income, household size, or address as they happen.11eCFR. 42 CFR 435.919 – Changes in Circumstances