Which Healthy Louisiana Plan Should You Choose in 2026?

If you qualify for Louisiana Medicaid, you don't just get "Medicaid" — you pick one of five Healthy Louisiana health plans that actually delivers your coverage. That choice decides which doctors are in network, what extra benefits you get, and how easily you can get a ride to an appointment. And the lineup just changed: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan left the program on March 31, 2026, moving its members to the remaining plans. So if you were on UnitedHealthcare — or you're new to Medicaid — here's how to choose on purpose instead of getting auto-assigned.

First: the lineup changed in 2026

Healthy Louisiana is the state's Medicaid managed-care program, run by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). Instead of the state paying doctors directly for each service, it contracts with private health plans that manage your care for a set monthly fee — and compete for members with extra benefits on top of the state-required basics.

The big change this year: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan's contract ended March 31, 2026. LDH held a special enrollment window earlier in the year for affected members to pick a new plan, and anyone who didn't choose was auto-assigned using an algorithm that tries to keep families together and preserve access to their existing doctors. If you were moved automatically, you're not stuck with that plan — see the switching rules below. If you're just checking whether you qualify in the first place, start with our Louisiana Medicaid eligibility guide, then come back here to choose a plan.

The five Healthy Louisiana plans at a glance

Every plan covers the same core Medicaid benefits: doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, behavioral health, maternity care, and more. Where they compete is on network size and the extras. Here's the shape of it:

Value-added benefits change every year and each plan sets its own, so treat the dollar figures above as a directional starting point. Confirm the current details directly with the plan and with Healthy Louisiana before you decide.

How to choose — by your situation

The right plan depends less on "which is best" and more on "which fits your life." A few common cases:

You're pregnant or have a new baby

All five plans support maternity care, but the rewards differ. Aetna's Maternity Matters and Louisiana Healthcare Connections' prenatal rewards (plus a free portable crib for safe sleep) both pay you for keeping appointments. Humana layers in home-delivered meals for higher-risk pregnancies. If appointment-completion rewards would genuinely help your budget, those three are worth a close look.

Getting to appointments — or affording daily needs — is your real barrier

If transportation is the problem, check each plan's ride benefit — several cover non-emergency medical rides, and Humana also offers rides to WIC, food banks, and wellness classes. If your struggle is bills and groceries, Louisiana Healthcare Connections lets you turn healthy-visit rewards into help with utilities and groceries, and Humana's housing allowance and medically tailored meals target the same need.

You want dental or vision extras

Remember that routine adult dental in Louisiana Medicaid is handled separately (more on that below), but some plans add their own dental value on top. AmeriHealth Caritas (adult dental plus a vision eyewear allowance) and Healthy Blue (adult dental through DentaQuest) stand out here. For hearing needs, Louisiana Healthcare Connections covers exams and hearing aids for adults.

You want rewards for staying on top of your health

Every plan runs a rewards program, but they pay differently. Aetna issues gift cards for wellness and prenatal visits, Humana's Go365 and AmeriHealth Caritas' CARE Card reward screenings and check-ups, and Louisiana Healthcare Connections lets rewards offset real bills. Pick the one whose rewards match what you'd actually use.

How to change your plan — the new 2026 rule

Louisiana loosened its plan-switching rules this year, so you have more flexibility than the old once-a-year window allowed.

• Your first 90 days: when you first enroll, you can change plans for any reason during your first three months. This is your easiest window.
• The new rule (effective March 1, 2026): Louisiana replaced the single annual open-enrollment period. You can now change your health plan up to two times per calendar year for any reason. For 2026, that window runs March 1 through December 31; starting in 2027 it aligns to the calendar year.
• After your two changes: you generally stay put until the next year unless you have a "for cause" reason — for example, your plan doesn't cover a service you need, you have a quality-of-care problem, or you move out of the plan's service area.
• Where to do it: online at myplan.healthy.la.gov, through the Healthy Louisiana mobile app, or by calling the enrollment line at 1-855-229-6848 (TTY 1-855-526-3346).

One more thing: adult dental is separate

Louisiana "carves out" its Medicaid dental benefit — it's not run by your medical health plan. Instead, dental is managed by separate Dental Benefit Program Managers (DBPMs), currently DentaQuest and MCNA. That means the dental card you use can be different from your Healthy Louisiana medical plan, and you may choose a dental plan separately. If dental coverage is a priority, don't assume your medical plan handles it — check your DBPM. (Some medical plans, like AmeriHealth Caritas and Healthy Blue, still add their own extra adult dental value on top of the carved-out benefit.)

Moving to Louisiana from another state, or thinking about leaving? Medicaid doesn't transfer across state lines — here's what happens to your Medicaid when you move. And if your income is now too high for Medicaid, our guide on Medicaid vs. the marketplace explains where subsidized coverage picks up.

Frequently asked questions

SubsidyCalc is an independent data project, not a health plan, broker, or government agency. This guide is general information, not medical, legal, or insurance advice. Plan benefits and rules change — confirm current details with each plan and the Louisiana Department of Health before enrolling.