To apply for Indiana Medicaid for long-term care, you must set up a Miller Trust first if your income tops $2,982 per month; skipping that step gets the application denied. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) processes eligibility through its Division of Family Resources (DFR), and you can apply in person, online through the FSSA Benefits Portal, by mail, or by calling 1-800-403-0864. This guide walks through each channel, the documents you'll need, and what to expect after you submit.

In This Guide

Before You Apply: The Miller Trust Rule

Indiana does not offer a medically needy spend-down for long-term-care applicants. That means if your gross monthly income is above $2,982, there is no pathway to eligibility unless you set up a Qualified Income Trust, called a Miller Trust. Indiana sets that 2026 cap at $2,982 per month, which equals 300 percent of the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit rate of $994.

A Miller Trust is a legal arrangement where any income exceeding the cap is deposited into the trust each month. The trust funds pay toward your cost of care; the excess no longer counts against the income limit. What Indiana requires is a valid qualified income trust in place before you submit the application, which is why families almost always have an elder law attorney draft it. Applying without one when you're over the cap results in automatic denial.

How to know if you need one: Add up all your gross monthly income: Social Security benefits, pension payments, annuity income, any other recurring income before deductions. If that total is more than $2,982, contact an elder law attorney before you do anything else.

If your income is under $2,982, you can skip ahead to the application itself.

How to Apply for Indiana Medicaid: Four Ways

Indiana takes health-coverage applications in person, online, by mail, or by phone, and all four feed the same DFR eligibility system, so pick the one that fits your situation. That fourth route matters: if a computer and a phone call are both out of reach, a mailed paper application still gets you in the door.

FSSA Benefits Portal (Online) The fastest channel for most families. An optional account lets you save progress, upload documents directly, return to an in-progress application, and respond to DFR document requests without mailing anything; an authorized representative can set one up to apply for a parent or spouse. The portal handles Medicaid applications for aged, blind, and disabled individuals. fssabenefits.in.gov
Local DFR Office (In Person) Walk into any Division of Family Resources office and staff can assist with the application on the spot. In-person visits work well if you are assembling documents with help from a family member, or if navigating online forms is difficult. Call the number below to find the office closest to you. 1-800-403-0864 www.in.gov/fssa
DFR Toll-Free Line (By Phone) A representative can walk you through the application, tell you which documents to gather, and confirm whether a Miller Trust is required before you put together paperwork. This is often the best starting point. Phone hours follow state business hours, so call during regular weekday hours for the shortest wait. 1-800-403-0864
Paper Application (By Mail) Indiana accepts health-coverage applications by mail, the route to use when neither the portal nor a phone call is realistic. Call DFR or stop at any county office to get the paper application and confirm where to send it; DFR has a local office in every county. 1-800-403-0864

Whichever channel you choose, DFR will contact you about next steps after you submit; for long-term-care applicants, that includes a level-of-care screening.

What Happens After You Apply for Indiana Medicaid

Understanding the post-submission steps helps you avoid delays and respond quickly when DFR needs something from you.

1
Step 1

Financial determination

DFR reviews your income and assets against the program limits. For nursing-facility and waiver applicants, that means verifying your income is at or below $2,982 per month (or routed through a valid Miller Trust) and that countable assets do not exceed $2,000 for a single applicant.

2
Step 2

Level-of-care screening

Long-term-care applicants must also demonstrate that they need a nursing-facility level of care. DFR coordinates this functional assessment after financial eligibility is established. Both criteria, financial and functional, must be met to receive coverage.

3
Step 3

Indiana PathWays for Aging enrollment

If you're 60 or older and applying for long-term services and supports, you'll be enrolled in Indiana PathWays for Aging after eligibility is confirmed. Launched in 2024, PathWays is Indiana's managed-care program for home and community-based services for members in that age group.

4
Step 4

Processing timeline

Under federal rule 42 CFR 435.912, a state Medicaid agency's determination may not exceed 45 days for most applicants, and 90 days for applicants who apply on the basis of disability. Those are ceilings on the agency, not a promise your decision arrives by then. DFR may contact you during this period to request documents; respond quickly, because missing a verification deadline can trigger an automatic denial.

5
Step 5

Benefit start date

Federal law requires coverage to be made available for covered services furnished as far back as the third month before the month you applied, if you were eligible during that earlier period. For applications made on or after January 1, 2027, that window shortens to two months before the application month for most enrollees, and to one month for the ACA Medicaid adult expansion group. Ask DFR about retroactive coverage when you apply.

Documents to Gather Before You Apply

Having your paperwork in order before you apply prevents the most common cause of delays. Gather the following:

Identity and citizenship:

  • Social Security card or Social Security Administration letter confirming your number
  • U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, or Certificate of Naturalization
  • Indiana driver's license, state ID, or another government-issued photo ID
  • If you're already enrolled in Medicare, your Medicare enrollment card serves as proof of citizenship

Income:

  • Social Security award letter or SSA-1099 for the current year
  • Pension statements or letters from your pension administrator
  • Any annuity or retirement account distribution statements
  • Recent pay stubs if you or your spouse is still working

Assets:

  • Bank statements for all checking and savings accounts (current month plus at least 3 months back)
  • For long-term-care applicants, prepare up to 60 months of bank statements. DFR looks back five years at asset transfers, and having records on hand shortens the review.
  • Statements for CDs, stocks, bonds, and investment accounts
  • Life insurance policies showing face value and cash surrender value
  • Vehicle registration or title
  • Property deeds and recent property tax bills
  • Burial plot deeds and prepaid funeral contracts, if any

Medical and insurance:

  • Medicare enrollment card and any supplemental insurance cards
  • Recent medical bills if relevant to documenting care needs
  • Proof of health insurance premiums, which may qualify as income deductions

Miller Trust (if applicable):

  • The fully executed trust document, signed and in effect before you submit the application
  • The trust's bank account statement showing it is open and funded

The Look-Back Period

Indiana applies a 60-month look-back to any assets you transferred for less than fair market value in the five years before your application date. If DFR finds such a transfer, it calculates a penalty period during which you're ineligible for Medicaid, even if you're otherwise eligible. The penalty is based on the value of the transferred assets divided by Indiana's monthly private-pay nursing-home rate.

Transfers you made before the five-year window are not counted. Transfers to a spouse, a disabled child, or certain other permitted recipients are generally exempt. If you or a family member made a large gift or below-market property sale in the past five years, consult an elder law attorney before applying.

Can Someone Else Apply for You?

Yes. An adult family member or authorized representative can submit the application on behalf of the applicant. If you are applying for a parent or spouse:

  • You can complete and submit the application directly at the FSSA Benefits Portal using the applicant's information.
  • At a DFR office, you can accompany the applicant and assist with the process.
  • If the applicant cannot sign because of incapacity, a person with legal authority, such as a power of attorney or legal guardian, can apply on their behalf. Bring documentation of that authority to the DFR office or upload it through the portal.

An authorized representative can submit applications, upload documents, check status, and respond to DFR requests. Let DFR know at the time of application that you're acting as a representative so they can direct communications appropriately.

If Your Application Is Denied

You have the right to appeal. Indiana Medicaid denials come with a notice that includes the reason for the denial and your appeal rights. Federal rules cap that request window rather than guarantee it: a state must allow a reasonable time to ask for a fair hearing, and no more than 90 days from the date the notice of action is mailed, but a state may set a shorter window. Indiana does. The written appeal must be filed by close of business within 33 days of the date of the notice or the adverse action, whichever is later. That 33-day window is what binds you, so read the notice the day it arrives, confirm the date printed on it, and act on 33 days rather than on 90.

To request a fair hearing, contact DFR as directed in your denial notice. You can request the hearing by phone, in writing, or at a DFR office. During the hearing, you can present additional documents, correct factual errors, and argue that the denial was wrong. A hearing officer will issue a written decision.

If the denial was due to income being over the cap, the fix is usually to set up the Miller Trust and reapply, not to appeal. An appeal makes sense when the denial involved an error in the eligibility determination, such as counting an exempt asset or misreading your income.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to set up a Miller Trust before I apply?

Only if your gross monthly income is above $2,982. Indiana is an income-cap state with no spend-down option for long-term-care applicants, so any amount over the cap must go through a Miller Trust each month. If your income is under the cap, you do not need a trust and can apply directly.

How do I apply for Indiana Medicaid online?

Go to the FSSA Benefits Portal and complete the Medicaid application form. You can create an account to save progress and upload documents, or apply without an account. After submission, DFR will process your financial eligibility and, for long-term-care applicants, schedule a level-of-care screening.

What is the asset limit for Indiana Medicaid?

For a single applicant seeking nursing-facility or HCBS-waiver coverage, the countable asset limit is $2,000. For a married couple with both spouses applying, the limit is $3,000. Your primary home (subject to an equity ceiling of $752,000), one vehicle, household goods, and prepaid burial expenses are generally exempt.

Can a married couple protect more assets?

Yes. Indiana applies federal spousal impoverishment protections. The community spouse (the one not in a nursing facility) can keep up to half the couple's countable assets, up to the federal Community Spouse Resource Allowance maximum of $162,660, and a minimum of $32,532. The community spouse also retains a monthly income allowance. Consult an elder law attorney for the specifics, as the calculation depends on each couple's assets and income.

How long does it take to get approved?

Under federal rule 42 CFR 435.912, a decision may take no more than 45 days for most applicants and no more than 90 days for applicants who apply on the basis of disability. Those are outer limits on the agency, not a guaranteed decision date. Long-term-care cases that require a functional assessment often run toward the end of the window, and note that the longer standard turns on applying on the basis of disability, so an older applicant applying on the basis of age is on the 45-day standard. Responding promptly to any DFR request for documents is the single biggest factor in preventing delays.

What happens after I'm approved?

DFR confirms financial eligibility first. Long-term-care applicants then receive a level-of-care screening. Once both are complete and you're approved, if you're 60 or older, you'll be enrolled in Indiana PathWays for Aging to receive your long-term services and supports through Indiana's managed-care program.

Your next step Apply for Indiana Medicaid through the FSSA Benefits Portal or call the Division of Family Resources at 1-800-403-0864.

Learn More

MedicaidHow to Apply for Medicaid by State: Steps, Documents, and Where to ApplyApplying for Medicaid follows the same federal steps everywhere; the agency and portal are your state's. What to gather, how long it takes, and where to apply. MedicaidIndiana Medicaid: A Guide for Seniors and FamiliesIndiana Medicaid covers long-term care through FSSA in 2026. PathWays for Aging, income-cap rules, Miller Trust, spousal protections, and how to apply. MedicaidIndiana Medicaid Eligibility and Income LimitsSee the 2026 Indiana Medicaid income limits and asset rules. Indiana is an income-cap state, so over-income applicants need a Miller Trust to qualify for care. MedicaidHelp Paying Medicare Premiums in IndianaIndiana Medicare Savings Programs in 2026: QMB, SLMB, and QI income limits, Part B premium savings, Part D Extra Help, and how to apply through FSSA. MedicaidMedicaid Planning Strategies for SeniorsSee which assets you keep, how the 5-year look-back works, and the legal moves that qualify you for Medicaid long-term care without losing the house. MedicaidMedicaid Estate Recovery ExplainedMedicaid estate recovery explained: federal law, 51-state matrix, categorical protections, hardship waivers, and 2025-2026 reform updates. Verify before acting.

Find personalized help applying for Indiana Medicaid at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.