Health Care Access
Important Changes Coming to Medicaid or LaCHIP Eligibility
By the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (May 2022)
Do you or a family member currently have health coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)? If so, you may soon need to take steps to find out if you can continue your coverage. Soon, states will resume Medicaid and CHIP eligibility reviews. This means some people with Medicaid or CHIP could be disenrolled from those programs. However, they may be eligible to buy a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace ®, and get help paying for it.
Here are some things you can do to prepare.
Make sure your address is up to date
Make sure your state has your current mailing address, phone number, email, or other contact information. This way, they’ll be able to contact you about your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Check your mail
- Your state will mail you a letter about your Medicaid or CHIP coverage. This letter will also let you know if you need to complete a renewal form to see if you still qualify for Medicaid or CHIPIf you get a renewal form, fill it out and return it to your state right away. This may help you avoid a gap in your coverage.
What if you don’t qualify for Medicaid or CHIP?
If you or a family member no longer qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, you may be able to buy a health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace®. Marketplace plans are:
- Affordable. 4 out of 5 enrollees can find plans that cost less than $10 a month.
- Comprehensive. Most plans cover things like prescription drugs, doctor visits, urgent care, hospital visits, and more.
Visit HealthCare.gov to find Marketplace plans and see if you might save on premiums. When you apply, don’t forget to include current information about your household, income, and your state’s recent decision about your Medicaid or CHIP coverage.
Get help with your Louisiana Medicaid coverage
About Medicaid or LaCHIP
Customer Service Hotline:
1-888-342-6207
Apply for Medicaid or renew your coverage online
Medicaid Self Service Portal: mymedicaid.la.gov.
Contact for the Louisiana Department of Health in Baton Rouge
Phone
- We are here Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Call us at 1-855-229-6848.
For the hearing impaired (TTY) please call 1-855-526-3346.
Mail
You can mail your completed enrollment form to us at:
Healthy Louisiana
P.O. Box 1097
Atlanta, GA 30301-9913
Fax
You can fax your completed enrollment form to us at 1-888-858-3875.
Email
https://www.myplan.healthy.la.gov/contact-us
- On July 1, 2016, Medicaid coverage expanded in Louisiana and many more Louisianans are now eligible for health coverage and services, based on household income.
The Health Insurance Marketplace is a tool to help you find insurance that is right for you at an affordable price. The Marketplace 
is part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sometimes called “Obamacare” and most people who use it will qualify for lower costs on their health insurance premiums. Visit the Health Insurance Marketplace to find out more.
Do you need help finding a low cost place to get health care? The Healthcare Resources page has helpful links and guides on clinic locations as well as easy to understand information about health insurance.
The Health Department works to develop policy that ensures that everyone in New Orleans has access to healthcare. Find out more about that work.