INDIANAPOLIS — There's finally help for thousands of uninsured Hoosiers. The Healthy Indiana Plan takes effect next week. It’s designed for Hoosiers who don't have access to health insurance through the government or their employer.

The state hopes to sign up 50,000 in the first year of the plan, 130,000 when it's fully implemented. But there's still hundreds of thousands of people who won't be covered, because there's not enough funding.

For those who are covered, the program is already providing peace of mind.

“I got my insurance card today,” said Shelly Ross, a part-time teacher at a community college. “I'm very excited. I've gone about a year now since the divorce without any health care, haven't gotten my asthma medicine for instance. I lived with a cataract in one eye, so I can't see out of this eye, so it's been about eight months of that.”

Next week, she and others across the state will have coverage to pay for their medical needs.

The governor described the stories of others who have signed up for the plan already.

“Amy's a single mom in Mishawaka, 29 years old,” he said. “She works at a small insurance agency, but has no insurance, but now she will. For $15 a month, she and her children, her two children will be covered.”

Governor Daniels says the plan is aimed at low to moderate income people who either can't afford coverage or don't have access to it.

Ross, for example, is a part-time teacher at a community college.

“So much of our economy depends on part-time workers, and people who can't get insurance through their work. We're working our tushes off, but we can't even buy the insurance that our full-time coworkers can buy,” Ross said.

Many of the uninsured go to hospital emergency rooms for their health care needs. Daniels believes the plan will ease the burden on hospitals, while lowering costs for everyone.

“When people are uninsured, they get care in a compassionate society, but often it is the most expensive sort of care. It happens at the emergency room or some other inefficient place and everyone else's premiums are forced up a little bit as the bill is not paid and handed on.”

Plans to expand coverage on the federal level stalled in Congress this year.

Congressman Joe Donnelly says Indiana's plan could be a model for other states.

“This is a fiscally responsible way to do it,” Rep. Donnelly said. “While at the same time, what we find is, over time, providing health insurance makes for a healthier population and a healthier population is a much more productive population.”

The funding for the plan will come from recent cigarette tax increase and also from federal matching funds. Those who participate in the plan will be expected to contribute if they are financially able.

Get more information on the Healthy Indiana Plan.