Medicare Plans Indiana 2027: The New Birthday Rule, 17 Giveback Plans and PathWays Dual Care

House Enrolled Act 1226 created the rule, and it took effect January 1, 2026. A 2026 follow-up law, HEA 1260, adjusted it for policies issued or renewed on or after March 15, 2026. The core idea: if you are 65 or older and already have a Medigap policy, you can move to another company’s version of the same plan without medical underwriting.

Indiana Department of Insurance and Indiana SHIP fact sheet on HEA 1226.

Examples and timing tips are on our Indiana birthday rule page.

Indiana PathWays for Aging is the state’s Medicaid managed care program for people 60 and older, launched July 1, 2024. Starting in January 2026, full-benefit dual eligibles were moved into PathWays Dual Care plans, which combine Medicare and Medicaid under one company, one card and one care coordinator.

We counted 137 individual Advantage plans in the CMS 2027 files (CMS’s fact sheet shows 140 using a broader count), sold by 13 organizations across all 92 counties.

The PPO tilt means most Hoosiers can find a plan that pays something for out-of-network care. Our Medicare PPO guide explains the trade-offs. Extras such as dental, vision and hearing may be included, depending on the plan and county; not all plans offer all benefits.

Our analysis of CMS 2027 plan data. Individual plans only, special needs plans included.

In Vigo County, Humana files 14 of the 32 plans and half the list is special needs plans, so a Terre Haute resident without Medicaid or a qualifying condition has far fewer options than the headline number suggests.

A Giveback plan may pay part of your Part B premium, which shows up as a larger Social Security check. Indiana’s 17 such plans are a notable share of the market.

CMS 2027 landscape fact sheet and Part D program parameters.

Original Medicare and Medigap users need a separate Part D plan to avoid a late penalty. Our Part D overview explains drug tiers and the penalty.

Indiana’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), part of the Indiana Department of Insurance, gives free and unbiased Medicare counseling. Counselors can explain the birthday rule and PathWays and do not sell insurance.