How to Apply for Indiana Medicaid 2026: Step-by-Step

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. Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) processes eligibility through its Division of Family Resources (DFR), and you can apply through the FSSA Benefits Portal, at a local DFR office, 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.

For current program details, visit in.gov/medicaid.

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.

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. The trust must be established by an elder law attorney and must be in place before you submit your application. Applying without it 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

Indiana offers three channels. They all feed the same DFR eligibility system, so pick the one that fits your situation.

Apply Online at the FSSA Benefits Portal

The FSSA Benefits Portal is the fastest channel for most families. You can create an account to save progress, upload documents directly, and check your application status after submission. The portal handles Medicaid applications for aged, blind, and disabled individuals.

Creating an account is optional, but it lets you return to an in-progress application and respond to DFR document requests without mailing anything. If someone is applying on behalf of a parent or spouse, they can also set up an account and designate themselves as an authorized representative.

After you submit online, DFR will contact you about next steps, which for long-term-care applicants includes a level-of-care screening.

Apply at a Local DFR Office

Walk into any local Division of Family Resources office. Staff can assist with the application on the spot. If you're not sure where the nearest office is, call DFR at 1-800-403-0864 and ask for the location closest to you, or use FSSA's office locator at in.gov/fssa.

In-person visits are a good option if you're assembling documents with help from a family member, or if you or your loved one has difficulty navigating online forms. DFR offices have staff available to answer questions about the application requirements specific to your situation.

Apply by Phone

Call DFR at 1-800-403-0864. A representative can walk you through the application and tell you which documents to gather. This is often the best starting point if you want to confirm whether a Miller Trust is required before you put together paperwork.

Phone hours follow state business hours; call during regular weekday hours for the shortest wait.

What Happens After You Apply

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

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.

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

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 July 1, 2024, PathWays is Indiana's managed-care program for home and community-based services for members in that age group.

Timelines. Federal rules require states to process most Medicaid applications within 45 days. Long-term-care applications that require a disability or functional determination can take up to 90 days. DFR may contact you during this period to request additional documents; respond quickly because missing a verification deadline can trigger an automatic denial.

Benefit start date. If approved, coverage can be retroactive to the first day of the month you applied, provided you were eligible during that month. 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 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 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. Generally, you have a limited window from the denial date to request a hearing, so read the notice carefully and act promptly.

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.

How to Apply for Indiana Medicaid: Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More

• Indiana Medicaid Eligibility and Income Limits
• Medicaid Planning Strategies for Seniors
• Medicaid Estate Recovery Explained

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.