Family Voices Indiana

The Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) is providing a special open enrollment period for Hoosier Healthwise members from November 15, 2016, through December 15, 2016.  During this open enrollment period, Hoosier Healthwise members can choose to enroll with any one of the four health plans that will serve the program as of January 1, 2017 – Anthem, CareSource, MDwise, and Managed Health Services (MHS) . All Hoosier Healthwise members will receive advance notice of the open enrollment time frame along with health plan summaries for the four health plan options.  Current Hoosier Healthwise members, or the parents or guardians of current members, may elect to change health plans during this special open enrollment period or elect to remain with their current health plan. If the member does not wish to choose a new health plan or does not make an election by the close of open enrollment, December 15, 2016, the member will remain with the health plan to which they are cu

Why is now a good time to take a closer look at your health care needs and options? 2017 Open Enrollment November 1, 2016 open enrollment begins December 15, 2016 enroll before this date to have coverage  January 1, 2017 January 31, 2017 open enrollment ends If you're uninsured or looking for more affordable health insurance, the “open enrollment” period is the time to visit  healthcare.gov or your state’s exchange. During “open enrollment”, private health insurance options can be reviewed and coverage can be purchased. People with low and moderate incomes may be able to get financial help to pay for health insurance coverage. Assistance to pay for premiums and other cost-sharing may be available for individuals and families, depending on which plan is purchased. If you get health insurance through your employer, Medicaid or Medicare, you are not eligible for this assistance. You can also sign up for insurance outside of the open enrollment period, if you 

Several years ago, I was in Juvenile Court with a teen client. I was her  IEP  advocate, but on this day I was there for moral support. The grandmother had asked me to speak to the judge regarding her educational programming (or lack thereof, as it was). This teen had been dealt life’s worst–her parents were in and out of jail, in and out of rehab, let their friends abuse and molest her…the worst of the worst, this young girl lived it. And, like her parents, she made lots of bad choices. It was like a cliche out of a movie–the 60-something, white-haired, male judge looked at this young, black female, wagged his finger and said, “Young lady, you need to make better choices.” When it was my turn to speak, I said, “Sir, with all due respect, you asked her to make better choices. That is like asking me to go build a house right now. I do not have the resources nor the tools in my tool kit to go build a house. She does not have the tools and resources to make better choices.” And I mea