How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Louisiana
 Written by Preston Micalizio Preston MicalizioPreston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing ... Read more |  Edited by Dan MarticioDan MarticioDan Marticio is the content manager at SmartFinancial and has written 150+ articles across multiple insurance verticals.... Read more |
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Comparing rates from multiple carriers can help you find a Louisiana health insurance plan that best meets your budget and coverage needs. Shopping around is especially important since the cost of health insurance in the “Pelican” State is above-average and you will want to save where you can.
Keep reading to learn about Louisiana health insurance, the most affordable plans, the cost in some of the state's largest cities and the available health care options.
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Key Takeaways
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On This Page
Is Health Insurance Required in Louisiana?
Louisiana Health Insurance Rankings
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Louisiana?
What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Louisiana by City?
Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Louisiana?
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Louisiana?
What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Louisiana?
How To Get Health Insurance in Louisiana?
FAQs
Is Health Insurance Required in Louisiana?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made it so American taxpayers were legally required to enroll in a health insurance plan with a minimum level of essential health benefits — otherwise, they’d receive a federal tax penalty. However, as of the 2018 tax year, federal tax penalties no longer apply for those who opt out of a health insurance plan.[1] While some states still carry fines for not having health insurance coverage, Louisiana won’t tax or fine its residents for forgoing coverage.[2]
Louisiana Health Insurance Rankings
The Commonwealth Fund ranked Louisiana 43 out of 51 in an analysis that took a holistic look at the health care systems in each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. Louisiana ranked last in terms of avoidable hospital use and cost but 16th, the state’s highest score, in income disparity. When considering all metrics, the state ranked sixth among 12 Southeastern states, which include Arkansas, Florida and Georgia.[3]
Below is an overview of Louisiana’s national rank in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:[3]
|
Dimension |
National Rank |
|---|---|
|
Reproductive & Women’s Health |
38 |
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Access & Affordability |
36 |
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Prevention & Treatment |
42 |
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Avoidable Hospital Use & Cost |
51 |
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Healthy Lives |
46 |
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Income Disparity |
16 |
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Racial & Ethnic Health Equity |
31 |
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Louisiana?
Marketplace benchmark plans in Louisiana cost $563 per month on average, which is more expensive than the nationwide average of $477 per month. On average, Louisiana residents pay a monthly premium of $446 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in the state, $548 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $636 for the lowest-cost gold plan.[4]
Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Louisiana
Bronze-tier Marketplace plans have the lowest monthly health insurance premiums in Louisiana but often come with higher deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Meanwhile, if you receive health care services frequently, you may be better off buying a gold or platinum plan to help you save on out-of-pocket expenses.
Several types of health plans exist, with health maintenance organization (HMO) plans and preferred provider organization (PPO) plans being common ones. Despite their lower monthly premiums, HMOs often have fewer benefits than PPOs. For example, HMOs may require a referral from your primary care doctor to see a specialist or offer limited in-network options.
What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Louisiana by City?
Below, we’ll review the median monthly rates across all metal tiers for individual health insurance plans for 30-year-olds making $40,000 per year in five major cities in Louisiana before considering premium tax credits.[5]
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City, Zip Code |
Quote |
|---|---|
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New Orleans, 70119 |
$522.50 |
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Baton Rouge, 70816 |
$535.29 |
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Shreveport, 71106 |
$518.62 |
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Metairie, 70003 |
$522.50 |
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Lafayette, 70506 |
$608.24 |
Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Louisiana?
Ambetter offers Louisiana's most affordable health insurance plans in the silver tiers. That said, Ambetter’s availability is quite limited and can be an affordable option if you live in a large city such as New Orleans or Baton Rouge. Meanwhile, HMO Louisiana, a Blue Cross Blue Shield subsidiary, insures 50% of Louisiana's population, with coverage available in even rural areas.[6]
Below is an overview of Louisiana health insurers with silver plans that cost below $800 for 40-year-old individuals.[6]
|
Health Insurance Company |
Cost Range |
|---|---|
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$501 to $585 |
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CHRISTUS Health |
$503 to $599 |
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HMO Louisiana |
$504 to $707 |
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$662 to $741 |
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Louisiana?
Louisiana residents can enroll in a health insurance Marketplace plan via HealthCare.gov during the designated open enrollment period from November 1 to January 15. To guarantee coverage starting January 1, choose your health insurance plan by December 15. If you wait beyond that date, your coverage won’t begin until February 1.[7]
Specific qualifying life events may initiate a special enrollment period, enabling you to enroll outside the open enrollment timeframe. These events include relocating to a new area, getting married, having children or losing employer-sponsored health insurance. Following most qualifying events, this special enrollment period generally spans 60 days before or after.[8]
What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Louisiana?
Some of the major types of medical insurance you can purchase in Louisiana include the following:
- Marketplace health plans
- Short-term health plans
- Private coverage directly from a provider
- Employer-sponsored group health insurance
- Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
- Medicare
- Medicaid programs
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), also called LaCHIP
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
- Student health plans
How To Get Health Insurance in Louisiana?
Collecting suitable health insurance quotes to compare individual or family health insurance policies is crucial to getting the best deal. Ideally, you should seek quotes from at least three to five insurance providers to see how varied your options are. Collecting these quotes one by one can take a lot of time and become tedious, but you can speed things up by using an insurance marketplace such as SmartFinancial.
After you answer a brief questionnaire, we’ll connect you with a licensed insurance agent to help you find affordable health plans that suit your unique needs. Click here to get a free Louisiana health insurance plan quote today!
- Insurance quotes /
- Health /
- Louisiana
Preston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing in various industries, from higher education to e-commerce. He strives to engage with the audience, provide accurate reporting and make complex subjects easily digestible.
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