The Healthy Indiana Plan could NEVER be a vehicle for the PPACA, and Indiana-elect(s) for decades have shown their least concern is Hoosiers health. Prior to HIP we ranked 50th out of 50 states in public health funding (HHS, 2002). Are most recent ranking, in public health funding, is 49th out of 50 (Prudue, 2012). HIP was initiated in 2007, by the second extension and expansion there was funding for an approximate 46,000 people, however to play it safe enrollment stopped at 39,000. Even though, there are 820,000 (at very bottom minimum) Hoosiers without any insurance, and have some of the highest (or poorest) rural disparities, poverty, access, and naturally health outcomes when compared nationally. However, 63 percent of the uninsured have at least one full time worker in the household. Yet, 73 percent of all people who are insured have private or employer-sponsored insurance, therefore, still not under state accountability. Indiana lawmakers have been provided funds, and failed to disperse these funds to the people, or atleast to the full capacity of the provisions...where did that money go? Our budget sure got balanced. Although, some say HIP will be 44% more expensive than Medicaid, others like the state actuary (who released the 44% figure), simply say "unknown." BUT, Indiana Lawmakers never acknowledge one -fact- in their health plan budgeting, Indiana accumulates $3 Billion a year in unpaid ER bills. That is more than if the entire Medicaid expansion and HIP expansion spending was combined! Indiana lawmakers have proven they care very little about the health of their residents, just glance at Pence's 2013 quarterly budget projection (pdf) access at the State website. Under the "Health" section, the health section, only one topic pertains to actual health issues. The rest, under the health section, lists things such as law enforcement's benefits to help public saftey...and health? Lawmakers said "94 percent are happy with HIP, and 99 percent said they would reapply." Yes, of course they will reapply better than nothing at all, our residents are so used to having nothing at all. But, ask the EX-PARTICIPANTS, who are on HIP because they are low-income, live the enduring poverty and unemployment risks, and could NOT pay THE MONTHLY HIP FEE, if you cannot pay your monthly bill for two consecutive months, you are KICKED OFF the program...for a year, sorry if you had cancer and experienced time off work, and had to pay your electric bill. Also, if an unfortunate occurrence would occur, the person could not apply for Indiana Medicaid-why-because in order to be on the waiting lists for Medicaid or HIP, you have to be uninsured for a minimum of 6 months. Also, there are a very limited number of physicians they will accept HIP but no worries, most arw denied HIP enrollment all together. Ask the nearly 1 million residents that are uninsured,and so many suffer around me, some have died-very young. I am currently a psychology student and single mother and have had the opportunity to compare Indiana-to-national statistics-it is one thing to read some of the poor-est statistics in the nation; and it is another to watch it and live it. Furthermore, Indiana has done nothing to stop, -half of the working-class employers are switching to temp-service hiring, to not pay health benefits, unemployment, etc. IF, the federal government does not step in and say NO to HIP, Indiana is doomed. Pence says more education (which is a plus) and building bridges and roads is the answer to our health care problems-Health is not, has not, and will not be on their lists of concerns, unless YOU forced them to be.
HIP coverage is not the best either, not for the group it would enroll. On top of not having dental and eye coverage, and wow you should see the poor to poorest teeth in the nation-other than maybe West Virginia, horrid. So, even if someone would go to school to better themselves, get technical training, or find a customer service job...if a person is near toothless, who will be hired first? (not to mention the extreme pain, and talk about preventative measures, have you ever seen what a constant leaking of mouth infections...which 74% of Indiana household have 1 or more people with oral leaking infections. Maybe that is why some of the poor-est health and heart statistics come from).
Also, HIP has caps on their enrollment, 300,000 dollars, which is a lot until you have cancer or a car wreck, someone making 15,000 a year and already sick, does this sound like the ACA plan to better our health? There are alot of caring and community oriented people in Indiana, it is part of the heartland, most are rural communities, farmer communities, and over the same last decade as ER's shut their doors, quit providing medications, ironically a super-rise in self-medicating led to heroin rise. Ten years ago, you did not even hear the word, no one could tell you someone they knew facing this issue. Now, its on every street, farmer road to church community. Everyone watched how it happened, and concurs. Once those who received meds, no longer have meds, and one thing led to another....it is absolutely everywhere-really really bad. People are suffering and cannot get help, please help me fight what has destroyed the innocence of rural Indiana. I am finishing my degree to help these poor poor people, but I fear many will not be here with us anymore. The statistics only tell about 1/8th of the story. There is many things going on in Indiana that are not being studied...well not quite yet. You may here from me again someday!

For currently enrolled HIP beneficiaries, who must annually recertify their eligibility, Indiana sends a form to the beneficiary to complete. Indiana must receive the form no later than 45 days before the end of the current eligibility period. Otherwise, the person will be disenrolled and is not allowed to come into compliance. It does not matter that the form is received on the 44th day or the 40th day or the 35th day or the 30th dav before the end of the current period of eligibility - - the beneficiary will be disenrolled period and cannot reenroll in HIP for 12 months. It does not matter that the beneficiary reports that the beneficiary received the form from Indiana after the 45th day had passed, but returned the form right away - - too bad - - disenrollment will occur along with a 12 month reenrollment penalty during which time the beneficiary cannot reapply or reenroll in HIP. It does not matter that the beneficiary mailed the form timely, but Indiana says it did not receive the form until after the 45th day - - too bad - - disenrolled - - 12 month penalty. The beneficiary can appeal, but the outcome does not change - - after the hearing, benefits will be discontinued with a 12 month penalty. This is a harsh and unreasonable rule. Should be scrutinized and changed.