The Hoosier State has long been considered a Republican stronghold, with Hoosiers supporting a Democrat for president only five times since 1900. A high percentage of Indiana’s income depends on manufacturing, but the state hasn’t been affected as greatly by declines in U.S. manufacturing as its neighboring states. Indiana was one of the states to challenge the Affordable Care Act during its initial Supreme Court debacle, but the state also expanded Medicaid using Obamacare guidelines.
Enrollment through the Years
Indiana uses the federal marketplace for enrollment in Obamacare plans. Since 2015, the state has seen a small but steady decline in the number of people signing up for coverage through the marketplace.
- 219,185 Hoosiers enrolled in 2015
- 196,242 Hoosiers enrolled in 2016
- 174,611 Hoosiers enrolled in 2017
In 2017, there were 52,365 new enrollees in an Obamacare marketplace plan. The remaining 122,246 people who signed up re-enrolled from the previous year. While many states saw a decline in 2017, most likely due to political unrest in Congress over healthcare reform, Indiana was on a downward path already. Exchange customers in Indiana tend to be older. The 55-64 demographic had the highest enrollment tally in 2017.
Indiana has also benefited from Medicaid expansion. Nearly 413,000 Indianans have gained coverage through Medicaid thanks to Obamacare’s expanded guidelines.
Cost Assistance
Cost assistance is available to eligible enrollees who choose a plan on the marketplace, typically those earning between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty limit. In 2017, 73 percent of people who enrolled in a marketplace plan in Indiana received cost assistance in the form of federal subsidies, reducing the monthly cost of premiums.
For certain enrollees – those earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty limit – cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) are also available if they choose a silver-level health plan. In 2017, 47 percent of Indiana exchange customers received CSRs.
Carrier Participation & Plan Availability
Hoosiers have just two carrier options in the marketplace for 2018, a decrease from the four they had in 2017. Last year, there were 3,630 plans offered by these carriers across the state. This does not mean that every county in Indiana has the same options for health insurance. Plan availability varies by county even in states that only have two carriers.
