How should Indiana cover more individuals who currently lack health insurance?
TINCHER: HEA1687 of 2007 created the Healthy Indiana Plan which was funded by increasing the cigarette tax. This increase provides over $200 million annually for the comprehensive act which extended dependent coverage and increased coverage to adults. This act also creates a tax credit up to $2500 per employee and is available to all employers who currently offer no health insurance. Since 40% of the workforce is employed by small private firms, expansion of this program offers a good solution. WELCH: As more Hoosiers have come to recognize the need for universal access to healthcare, the state is attempting to provide that access. Approximately 561,000 Hoosiers are without health insurance. Indiana has begun providing health insurance for those uninsured with the Healthy Indiana Plan. 80,000 Hoosiers have applied for HIP, with 26,000 currently receiving benefits. HIP is moving at a conservative but steady pace, thus allowing time to make program corrections and stabilize funding — unl
