The Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP, started its Gateway to Work Program this year, and July 1 is the first day some recipients are required to log hours to keep coverage. A new campaign to oppose the requirements has launched with a protest near the statehouse.
A coalition of labor, faith and community groups delivered thousands of petitions against Indiana’s HIP work requirements to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office. Kate Hess Pace is the executive director of Hoosier Action and says the work program is flawed.
"It does nothing to add access to Hoosiers’ ability to get work and instead is a costly, ineffective program that creates more governmental red tape and enriches the coffers of some of our largest corporations," says Hess Pace.
The rally drew a few dozen people who stood outside the offices of Maximus, one of the private companies that facilitates HIP.
Rev. David Greene is with the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis and says, historically, moves to add work requirements result in people losing benefits.
"There is every reason to expect that there will be many bureaucratic mistakes to administering this program as well," says Greene.
An estimated 70,000 to 80,000 Hoosiers on HIP will have to begin to log work, volunteer or school hours to keep their insurance.
