Open Enrollment
Choose Coverage That Keeps Care Within Reach
Open Enrollment is an opportunity to make sure your child’s health plan supports the care they need.
Choosing health coverage can feel complicated, especially when you’re also managing appointments, therapies, school, work, and everyday family life.
During Open Enrollment, you may have an opportunity to review your child’s health plan and choose a different option. One important thing to consider is the provider network, because not every health plan includes the same doctors, specialists, therapists, hospitals, pharmacies, or autism service providers.
At Lighthouse Autism Center, we want families to have clear, easy-to-understand information so you can make the decision that is right for your child.
What is Open Enrollment?
Open Enrollment is a designated period when people may be able to review their current health plan and select a different plan for the coming year.
For families with Medicaid, the rules and timing for changing a Medicaid health plan can vary by state and Medicaid program.
Why should families pay attention to Open Enrollment?
Health plans can have different provider networks. That means the doctors, specialists, hospitals, pharmacies, and therapy providers available under one plan may be different from those available under another.
Indiana Medicaid specifically encourages members to consider provider networks, existing medical providers, locations, and special programs when choosing a health plan.
Before making your selection, take a few minutes to check the providers and services that matter to your family.
Medicaid vs. Your Medicaid Health Plan: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to think of “Medicaid” as your child’s insurance company, but there can be another piece to understand.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a government health coverage program for eligible individuals and families.
Your Medicaid health plan
Depending on your state and Medicaid program, your Medicaid benefits may be managed through a private health plan. Many times, these are called Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs. You may also see the older term Managed Care Entity, or MCE. Indiana Medicaid says the two terms are equivalent as the state transitions to the MCO terminology.
Why does that matter?
Each health plan has a provider network, and those networks can be different.
Your child can remain enrolled in Medicaid while the health plan managing those benefits changes. That’s why knowing which health plan your child has is just as important as knowing that your child has Medicaid.
Simply put: Medicaid provides the coverage. Your Medicaid health plan may determine which providers are considered in-network.
Why Provider Networks Matter
When you choose a health plan, you aren’t just choosing the name on an insurance card. You’re also choosing a network of healthcare providers.
For a child with autism, that can be especially important because their care may involve multiple providers.
Before selecting a health plan, consider checking:
- Your child’s pediatrician
- Autism therapy providers
- Specialists your child sees
- Hospitals or health systems your family uses
- Pharmacies
- Prescription coverage
- Other services that are important to your child
A simple question can make a big difference:
“Are the providers my child needs in this plan’s network?”
Don’t assume that because a provider accepts Medicaid, they participate with every Medicaid health plan.
Five Things to Check Before Choosing a Health Plan
You don’t need to become an insurance expert. Start with these five questions.
If you want to continue seeing your child’s current pediatrician, verify that the provider participates with the plan you’re considering.
Think about every provider involved in your child’s care, including autism services.
Consider the broader healthcare network your family relies on.
If your child takes prescription medications, review the plan’s current pharmacy and prescription information.
Confirm the enrollment deadline, how to submit your selection, when the change becomes effective, and whether you need to take additional steps afterward.
Which Health Plans Include Lighthouse?
Lighthouse participates with many insurance plans, but participation can vary by state, Medicaid program, location, and plan.
The best approach is to check your specific situation before making a health plan decision.
Choose your location to see which plans currently include Lighthouse.
Important Open Enrollment Dates & Resources
Open Enrollment rules and health-plan options are different from state to state.
If your child receives Medicaid, use your state’s official Medicaid enrollment resources to verify:
Whether your child can select a health plan
When changes can be made
Which plans are available
When new coverage would become effective
Which providers participate in each plan
Illinois Medicaid members can use HealthChoice Illinois to compare health plans and providers and manage their health plan selection.
Families can enroll online or contact HealthChoice Illinois for help choosing a health plan and primary care provider.
HealthChoice Illinois: 1-877-912-8880
TTY: 1-866-565-8576
Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm
Official resource: HealthChoice Illinois Enrollment
NOTE: Illinois’s Get Covered Illinois individual-market enrollment window is November 1, 2026–January 15, 2027, with December 15, 2026 as the deadline for January 1 coverage. (This is different from Medicaid managed-care open enrollment)
Open Enrollment for 2026: November 1 through December 15, with plan changes effective January 1, 2027.
Families can use Indiana’s official enrollment resources to learn about available health plans and make a selection.
Lighthouse’s existing family guidance directs members to Indiana’s FSSA Enrollment Portal and provides dedicated phone resources for HIP and Hoosier Healthwise.
HIP: 1-877-GET-HIP9 (1-877-438-4479)
Hoosier Healthwise: 1-800-889-9949
CTA: Visit the Official Indiana Medicaid Enrollment Resource
Iowa Medicaid members can review their health plan options and make changes during their Annual Choice Period. Your Annual Choice Period is specific to your enrollment and will be provided by Iowa Medicaid. If you are happy with your current plan, you do not need to make a change.
Families can use Iowa’s official Medicaid resources to learn about available health plans and make a selection.
Iowa Medicaid Member Services: 1-800-338-8366
Des Moines area: 515-256-4606
Official resource: Iowa Health Link Annual Choice
Michigan Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan enrollment is available year-round. Families can use MI Bridges to apply for and manage Medicaid coverage.
Michigan Enrolls: 800-975-7630
Michigan Health Care Helpline: 855-789-5610
Official state resource: Michigan Medicaid Beneficiary Support
TTY: 711
Monday–Friday, 7am–7pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Open Enrollment is a time when you may be able to choose a new health plan.
This is a good time to check if your child’s doctors, therapists, and other healthcare providers are in your plan’s network.
Medicaid helps pay for healthcare. Your child may also have a Medicaid health plan that manages their Medicaid benefits.
Different health plans may have different doctors, therapists, hospitals, and pharmacies in their networks.
“In-network” means a healthcare provider works with your health plan.
Before you choose a plan, check if the doctors and therapists your child needs are in the plan’s network.
No. Lighthouse may be in-network with some Medicaid health plans but not others.
Click here for a list of insurances Lighthouse accepts.
No. We cannot tell you which plan to choose.
We can tell you which plans currently include Lighthouse. We can also help you find resources that explain your choices.
Remember: Think about all your child’s healthcare needs before choosing a plan.
Check the providers and services your child uses, including:
- Your child’s doctor
- Autism or ABA therapy
- Specialists
- Hospitals
- Other therapists
- Pharmacies
- Prescription medicines
Make sure the plan works for your child’s overall healthcare needs.
Open Enrollment may give you a chance to choose a different health plan.
If you are thinking about changing plans, check all your child’s doctors and healthcare needs first. Click here for a list of insurance plans that include Lighthouse.
Not always.
Your child may still need to complete other steps. These may include checking insurance benefits, getting approval from the health plan, completing an assessment, and waiting for an opening that meets your child’s needs.
Choosing an in-network plan does not promise a start date.
Ask the health plan if each provider is in-network with the exact plan you are thinking about choosing.
You can also check the plan’s provider directory.
Do not just ask, “Do you accept Medicaid?” A provider may accept some Medicaid health plans but not others.
Tell your child’s healthcare providers about the change.
If you want your child to receive services from Lighthouse, give us your new insurance information. We can review it and explain what happens next.
Yes. We are here to help.
We can:
- Tell you which health plans currently include Lighthouse
- Explain common insurance words
- Give you questions to ask a health plan
- Help you find official enrollment resources
- Explain what to do with Lighthouse after your plan changes
We cannot choose a health plan for your family. Our goal is to give you clear information so you can make the choice that is right for your child.
