The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Louisiana Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. The Medicaid program in Louisiana is also known as Healthy Louisiana.
Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Louisiana Medicaid or not.
However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Louisiana and how it works.
Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.
It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
How Many People are on Medicaid?
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:
- 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
- 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
- 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP
Louisiana Medicaid
The Louisiana Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.
As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered 1.6 million people.
This includes 756,000 children as shown by the image below.
In Louisiana, the Medicaid program is run by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
Who Can Get Medicaid in Louisiana?
You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:
- You think you are pregnant
- The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
- You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
- An adult age 65 or older.
- You are legally blind.
- Living with a disability or disabled.
- You are in need of nursing home care.
Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit
The Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.
To qualify, you must meet the Louisiana Medicaid Income limits listed below.
Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.
| 2021 Federal Poverty Levels for the 48 Contiguous States & D.C. | |||
| Household Size | Poverty Guideline for 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
| 1 | $12,880 | $16,090 | $14,820 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $21,770 | $20,040 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $27,450 | $25,260 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $33,130 | $30,480 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $38,810 | $35,700 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $44,490 | $40,920 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $50,170 | $46,140 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $55,850 | $51,360 |
| Over 8 people | add $4,540 for each additional person | $5,680 | $5,220 |
Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:
- Children up to age 1 with family income up to 212 percent of FPL
- Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 212 percent of FPL
- Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 212 percent of FPL
- CHIP for children with family income up to 250 percent of FPL
- Pregnant women with family income up to 133 percent of FPL
- Parents of minor children with family income up to 19 percent of FPL
- Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL
- Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL
Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit Charts
The Louisiana Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.
For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.
Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Louisiana who qualify for Medicaid.
Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit for Children
Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.
| Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit – Children | ||||||
| Children Medicaid Ages 0-1 | Children Medicaid Ages 1-5 | Children Medicaid Ages 6-18 | Children Separate CHIP | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 212% | 212% | 212% | 250% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $27,306 | $27,306 | $27,306 | $32,200 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $36,930 | $36,930 | $36,930 | $43,550 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $46,555 | $46,555 | $46,555 | $54,900 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $56,180 | $56,180 | $56,180 | $66,250 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $65,805 | $65,805 | $65,805 | $77,600 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $75,430 | $75,430 | $75,430 | $88,950 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $85,054 | $85,054 | $85,054 | $100,300 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $94,679 | $94,679 | $94,679 | $111,650 | |
Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.
Louisiana has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.
Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Louisiana.
For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Louisiana, see our Louisiana Expansion update below.
Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit for Adults
| Louisiana Medicaid Income Limit – Adults | ||||||
| Pregnant Women Medicaid | Adults (Medicaid) Parent/ Caretaker | Seniors & People w/ Disabilities (Medicaid) | Adults (Medicaid) Expansion to Adults | |||
| % FPL | 100% | 133% | 19% | 74% | 133% | |
|
Household Size
|
1 | $12,880 | $17,130 | $2,447 | $9,531 | $17,130 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $23,169 | $3,310 | $12,891 | $23,169 | |
| 3 | $21,960 | $29,207 | $4,172 | $16,250 | $29,207 | |
| 4 | $26,500 | $35,245 | $5,035 | $19,610 | $35,245 | |
| 5 | $31,040 | $41,283 | $5,898 | $22,970 | $41,283 | |
| 6 | $35,580 | $47,321 | $6,760 | $26,329 | $47,321 | |
| 7 | $40,120 | $53,360 | $7,623 | $29,689 | $53,360 | |
| 8 | $44,660 | $59,398 | $8,485 | $33,048 | $59,398 | |
How to Read the Louisiana Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above
You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.
Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.
For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 133% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is $23,169 as shown in the chart above.
How to Apply for Louisiana Medicaid
There are 3 ways you can apply for food stamps in Medicaid.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Louisiana Medicaid Self Service Portal – as shown in the image below.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your Medicaid Self Service Portal Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at Medicaid Application Center Near You
You can apply in person at a Medicaid Application Center near you. Click here to locate an office.
Option 3 – Download Application
You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county Medicaid Application Center or submit it in person.
Additionally, you can mail your application to:
Medicaid
P.O. Box 91278
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9278
You can also fax it to 1-877-523-2987.
For assistance with your Medicaid application, or to ask questions about programs or services, please call toll free 1.888.342.6207.
Louisiana Medicaid Phone Number
Here’s how to contact the Louisiana Medicaid Agency:
For help with your Medicaid coverage (Medicaid or LaCHIP):
You can call the Louisiana Medicaid customer service hotline at 1-888-342-6207.
Beginning Monday, April 22, 2021, customer service representatives will be available to take calls on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Additionally, you can email them at MyMedicaid@la.gov.
Louisiana Medicaid Expansion Update
On January 12, 2016, then-Governor John Bel Edwards signed his first executive order to start the process of Medicaid expansion in Louisiana.
Prior to June 1, 2016, Medicaid eligibility for adults in Louisiana was unchanged from 2013, and childless adults were ineligible for coverage, regardless of how low their incomes were.
Expansion has made Medicaid available to more than 400,000 people living in Louisiana who did not previously qualify for full Medicaid coverage and could not afford to buy private health insurance.
Louisiana Medicaid expansion took effect June 1, 2016.
Healthy Louisiana is Louisiana’s name for its new expanded Medicaid program.
Eligibility and enrollment system updates allow for real-time eligibility determinations based on state and federal data.
Work requirement was considered by lawmakers in 2018 but did not pass.
Louisiana Medicaid Income Limits Summary
We hope this post on Louisiana Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.
If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Louisiana, you can ask us in the comments section below.
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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
MaineCare Medicaid Income Limits