By ANDRÉ CARSON
No Hoosier should lose health insurance because their work schedule changes or they struggle to navigate government paperwork. But new Medicaid changes are taking effect Jan. 1, 2027, that will strip tens of thousands of Hoosiers of their health insurance.
Last year, I fought to protect Medicaid by voting against the Republican’s big ugly bill that forced new work requirements on Americans. Unfortunately, the Republican majority passed these restrictions, and now — over a year later — Americans will start feeling the sting.
In Indiana, tens of thousands of Hoosiers on the Healthy Indiana Plan are at risk of losing their insurance on Jan. 1. A disproportionate number of those Hoosiers are Black, because of long-running health and economic disparities built into our society. In Indiana, over 16% of those on Medicaid are Black, despite only representing about 10% of the total Indiana population.
Even without these new Medicaid cuts, 9% of Black Hoosiers are uninsured. That number is about to go up. Behind these numbers and stats are families who need prescriptions, medical appointments and the security of knowing they can get care when they are sick.
Before these Medicaid changes, families on this plan were required to prove their income annually. But in 2027, they also will need to document their work hours, and it’s checked every three months, and needs to be renewed every six months.
If for some reason the paperwork doesn’t go through — Hoosiers will lose their insurance and have to start all over to prove they are working.
The new work requirements are designed to fail, for example, a line cook, whose hours are unpredictable, may have a slow month, putting them just below the 80 hour a month requirement. Now, because of one slow month, they could lose insurance entirely, and have to start a new application process.
It puts a burden on families who are already working and a new administrative burden to process these new requirements. Nearly two-thirds of Medicaid beneficiaries already work but they aren’t earning enough to purchase private insurance or they’re working at places that don’t provide insurance for their employees.
Once a Hoosier loses access to their insurance, they lose access to a doctor or a prescription, simply because they may not be able to navigate the additional reporting and paperwork burdens. Those who are most at risk of losing coverage are also the most vulnerable.
Those who are most at risk of losing coverage are struggling to stay afloat with minimum wage jobs, while also balancing to afford housing, groceries, and fill their gas tanks to get to work. All Americans are feeling the effects of the affordability crisis. These families are feeling it even more — and now, they are at high risk of getting their insurance taken away.
That means missed preventative care appointments. That means common ailments and diseases have less chance of being caught early, and these health issues can become worse if not addressed.
This has an obvious human toll, when Americans are faced with serious or chronic health issues that could have been fixed with preventative care. It’s why I fight so hard for early detection of pancreatic cancer, which disproportionately impacts Black Americans. When caught early, pancreatic cancer can be treated. But more often than not, it isn’t detected until later stages when it’s too late.
But there’s also the toll on our entire health care system. If you can’t see your primary care provider and you or a family member gets sick, then you go to the emergency room. Emergency departments are required to treat patients regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. When an uninsured patient comes to the emergency department — many times, just to get medication they otherwise would receive at their primary doctor’s office — the hospital absorbs the cost. What’s more, it clogs the emergency room, making everyone wait longer to get the care they need.
In Indianapolis, Eskenazi Health relies heavily on the funds coming from Medicaid. These cuts don’t just hurt those on Medicaid. They put care at risk for everyone.
Hoosier Medicaid beneficiaries need to prepare now. If you’re up for renewal or apply for the Healthy Indiana Plan in January, Indiana says you must show that you met the requirements or qualify for an exemption in October 2026, November 2026, and December 2026.
Start keeping records now of your work, qualifying activities, or circumstances supporting an exemption.
Know your resources. Read your FSSA notices, update your contact information, and contact FSSA or your health plan for help.
If you have a medical condition or caregiving responsibilities, you may qualify for an exemption, but it’s important to ask now.
You can learn more at in.gov/fssa or by calling 1-800-457-8283. My office is also here as a resource – you can call 317-283-6516 or send me a message at carson.house.gov.
I fought against these changes because health insurance is a right, not a privilege. I will keep fighting to reverse this damage and lead our country towards a stronger, healthier future.
For more information or to contact U.S. Representative André Carson, visit carson.house.gov.
For more, visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
