Affordable Health Insurance in Indiana for 2027: HIP, Subsidies & Smart Shopping

Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026)

Looking for affordable health insurance? Indiana makes that search harder this year. Rates are up, the extra federal help is gone, and HIP is changing. This page focuses on cost. For the full picture of enrollment, insurers, and Medicaid, read our Indiana health insurance guide.

Why Indiana plans cost more in 2027

Indiana’s 2027 Marketplace rates rose for two reasons: insurers raised list prices, and the enhanced federal tax credits ended after 2025. The Indiana Department of Insurance approved an average increase of 17.5% for individual Marketplace plans, after insurers asked for 19.7%, according to the IDOI 2027 filings summary.

That average hides big differences. IDOI’s approved changes by insurer ranged from the mid-teens to the high twenties, and individual plans moved more or less than that. Nationally, KFF counted a median proposed increase of 15% for 2027, after a 2026 season when subsidized enrollees’ net payments more than doubled on average.

The practical takeaway: the plan you had last year may no longer be your best value. Auto-renewal keeps you covered, but it rarely keeps you on the cheapest plan that fits.

Your income decides your price: 2027 limits

For affordable health insurance, Indiana households should start with income, because it decides which program you land in. Below about 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL), most adults qualify for HIP. From 138% to 400%, Marketplace subsidies apply. Above 400%, you pay full price.

The 2027 plan year uses the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Here are the key lines for Indiana households:

Count everyone you claim on your taxes, and use your best estimate of 2027 income, not last year’s. If you are self-employed, a gig worker, or paid seasonally, estimate carefully: you reconcile the credit on your 2027 tax return in 2028.

HIP: the lowest-cost option if you qualify

For adults 19 to 64 under about 138% FPL, the Healthy Indiana Plan is almost always the cheapest coverage available. It is Indiana’s Medicaid expansion program, run by the Family and Social Services Administration, and you apply through the FSSA Benefits Portal or by calling 1-877-GET-HIP-9.

Keeping HIP takes more effort starting January 1, 2027. Non-exempt members must log 80 hours a month of work, job training, school, or community service, with a three-month lookback for new applicants. People applying in January 2027 must show they met it in October through December 2026.

Children and pregnant Hoosiers have a separate low-cost route through Hoosier Healthwise, which includes CHIP. A parent on a Marketplace plan can still have kids covered there.

How subsidies cap your share

A premium tax credit limits what you pay for the benchmark silver plan to a fixed share of your income. The share rises with income. Because the credit is a fixed dollar amount, you can apply it to a cheaper bronze plan or a richer gold plan instead.

These percentages come from IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-26, and the IRS premium tax credit page explains how the credit works. Our 2027 subsidy guide has worked examples.

If you earn up to 250% FPL, a silver plan also gets cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles and copays. For many working Hoosiers in that range, silver is the best value even when bronze looks cheaper on premium.

Ways to lower what you pay

Getting affordable health insurance, Indiana style, means comparing the whole year’s cost, not just the monthly bill. A plan with a lower premium but a $12,000 out-of-pocket maximum, the 2027 federal ceiling for one person, can cost more than a richer plan if you need care.

• Check every insurer in your county. IDOI lists four on the Marketplace for 2027, but some cover only part of the state.
• Price your doctors and drugs. A plan that leaves out your specialist or medication can wipe out any premium savings.
• Look at bronze with an HSA. Some bronze plans qualify for a health savings account, which adds a tax break.
• Use Catastrophic if you’re under 30. It is a low-premium safety net, though tax credits generally can’t be applied to it.
• Report income changes. If your pay drops mid-year, update your application so your credit rises.

Our affordable health insurance guide covers national strategies, and how to choose a health plan walks through the comparison step by step.

If your insurer is leaving

Cigna and CareSource will not sell Indiana Marketplace plans for 2027, according to IDOI. If either is your insurer, your plan ends December 31, 2026, and you need to choose a new one during Open Enrollment.

HealthCare.gov may move you to a similar plan automatically, but that match won’t always include your doctors or be the lowest cost for you. Losing your plan because an insurer exits can also open a Special Enrollment Period if you miss the deadline. On the plus side, UnitedHealthcare expanded from 5 to 36 counties and AmeriHealth Caritas Indiana entered 7 counties, so some areas have more choices, not fewer.

Affordable health insurance Indiana options beyond the Marketplace

Not everyone fits neatly into HIP or a subsidized plan. If your income is above the 400% cliff, if you missed Open Enrollment, or if you only need to fill a gap, other kinds of coverage can help. They each come with trade-offs, so it helps to know what you are giving up.

• Job-based coverage. If an employer offers a plan that costs you no more than 10.22% of household income for employee-only coverage in 2027, you generally can’t get a Marketplace credit, so compare that offer first.
• Alternative plans. Short-term and other non-ACA plans can bridge a few months, but they can exclude pre-existing conditions and skip essential benefits. They are a stopgap, not a replacement.
• Ancillary coverage. Stand-alone dental, vision, and accident plans can round out a bronze plan for a family that rarely sees a doctor but wants checkups covered.

For affordable health insurance, Indiana families often end up with a mix: a parent on a Marketplace plan, kids on Hoosier Healthwise, and a dental plan on top. Honesty compares ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side, so you can see which mix costs least for your family’s needs.

Free in-person help is also available. State-certified Indiana Navigators can help with HealthCare.gov, HIP, and Hoosier Healthwise applications at no cost.

Indiana cities: local ways to save

Where you live changes which insurers, hospitals, and safety-net programs you can use. Our city guides go deeper:

Indianapolis

Marion County has the state’s largest network of sliding-fee community health centers, including Eskenazi Health Center sites, HealthNet, and Jane Pauley Community Health Center. Eskenazi also offers financial counseling to help patients find coverage or payment help.

Fort Wayne

Allen County residents who are uninsured and under 200% FPL can get free medical, dental, and vision care at Matthew 25, and Neighborhood Health runs sliding-fee clinics on the south and southeast sides. Parkview Health and Lutheran Health Network are the two main hospital systems, so network checks matter.

Frequently asked questions

Keep learning: read the full Indiana health insurance guide, see local help in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, and learn how 2027 subsidies work.