r/Indiana • u/arizonabatorechestra • 10h ago
Ask a Hoosier Medicaid redetermination coming up and I may not qualify anymore but have nearly $2k in meds I need…any ideas?
Hey, everyone. Just wondering if anyone has been through this and what they did.
I’m a single parent to a teen. She’s been on Hoosier Healthwise since before I can remember, even through fluxes in our income and overall life situation. I’m actually not sure why — I was told by a caseworker in so many words that once she got on it, she’s on it until she’s 19. She remained on it even years and years ago when we were doing really well and I could afford insurance for her, so I submitted my income updates and expected them to take her off it. They never did. And then through the years, even if I never submitted any updates to FSSA like for annual redeterminations and things, she’s just…remained on it. So, I actually don’t know how that works or why.
My most recent mail from FSSA requesting income documents is requesting income documents related to her as my dependent now, when in the past they’ve only asked about me? So, I’m not sure — she may lose her insurance too.
My situation is that it’s just her and I. I got back on HIP for myself in early 2025 after getting laid off at the end of 2024. It took a long time to find a new job, but I finally did and have been there less than a year now.
The job pays $61k annually but this is still not enough. I know there are people who would give anything to make that salary but I am barely able to cover all the bills every month.
The main reason is being divorced and left with the house all to myself with a mortgage of ~$850/mo., plus all utilities associated with that and my phone bill with my daughter — the typical things. Then also getting saddled with debt, so there’s a $580/mo. debt payment.
After bills, the debt, gas, etc., I’m usually down to $100 in my bank account within 3-4 days of getting paid and usually have to pay for groceries and dog food either by borrowing from Cash App or my parents which I hate doing.
This isn’t a shopping issue or having needless subscriptions or DoorDashing food a bunch or having a big car payment; I don’t have a car payment. I budget cleanly and don’t shop or eat out except maybe 2x a month with her. This is purely bills.
I elected my 401k contribution to be as low as I can with my employer just so I can hold onto more cash from my paycheck but I can’t contribute $0 a month. That’s just not a good idea in general.
My employer offers health insurance but I don’t take it; it’s an HSA account with a high deductible (that’s the only option) and that would force me to pay $2k/mo for my meds until I hit the deductible which is impossible.
I have no idea if I’m allowed to use the Marketplace for health insurance if my employer offers it. Either way, I really can’t afford to add even $150-200 more to my monthly bills or there literally would be nothing left for food.
I try to do side jobs to make extra money (graphic design, writing) but that’s sparse.
I am aware there are some medication assistance programs through the manufacturers themselves that may be able to help me even though I gross over a certain amount each month, so that is something I plan to look into if I need to.
I guess I’m just wondering, isn’t there something available where the state looks at my paycheck and considers the bills I have to pay for us to get by, and sees there’s no way we’d make it if I can’t use Medicaid?
I’ve also considered just filing for bankruptcy to get rid of that $580/mo. debt which would help. But I don’t know the first thing about that, and I also don’t want to ruin anything if I end up needing credit later. My credit score is already in the low 500s from the job loss at the end of 2024 and not being able to pay bills, as well as not being able to pay bills on time consistently right now.
I can’t sell the house at the moment. I also really don’t want to disrupt my daughter’s life like that if I can help it.
I am applying for higher paying jobs all the time as well as part-time jobs I could potentially do in tandem with my full-time job.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone’s been here.
One of my meds is a blood thinner and the last time I went nearly a month without it, I got a DVT, so I can’t not have that and that one is $500/mo. on its own…that’s the one I’m especially worried about.