Medicare in Louisiana
Key Takeaways
- Medicare is a health insurance program by the federal government and is available to all legal U.S. residents aged 65 and older. Legal residents who have lived in the U.S. for five or more years may also be eligible.
- Original Medicare (Parts A and B)Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health insurance program available to Americans aged 65 and older and some individuals with disabilities. Original Medicare is provided by the federal government and is made up of two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). helps cover hospital and medical costs. Medicare Advantage (Part C)Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) is health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older that blends Medicare benefits with private health insurance. This typically includes a bundle of Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). is an alternative to Original Medicare that often provides dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
- The price of Medicare in Louisiana starts with several standardized costs, but what you end up paying will depend on your needs and plans.
If you are 65 or older and have questions about health insurance, you should get up to speed with Medicare in Louisiana. Unfortunately, no one’s ever referred to Medicare as The Big Easy.
But that doesn’t mean finding information on Medicare plans in Louisiana needs to be complicated. GoHealth can help you answer some critical questions. How much is Medicare? What is Medicare Advantage in Louisiana, and what are all of your options? How do you sign up?
If you’re looking for answers to questions like these, check out GoHealth’s guide to Medicare in Louisiana.
Or should we say, GeauxHealth?
Who Qualifies for Medicare in Louisiana?
To qualify for Medicare in Louisiana, you need to be 65 or older and either a legal U.S. citizen or a legal resident of at least five years. Some situations may qualify you for Medicare before 65, including:
- You’ve received disability-based Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits for 24 or more months.
- You’re living with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Can I bundle multiple benefits into one plan?
How Do I Apply for Medicare in Louisiana?
Are you approaching your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) and need to sign up for Medicare in Louisiana? There are several ways for Louisianians to enroll, whether with impartial help from a licensed insurance agent at GoHealth or through the Social Security Administration (SSA). To apply for Medicare:
- Contact GoHealth. One of our licensed insurance agents will help you enroll while answering your questions.
- Apply online at the SSA website.
- Call the SSA at 1-800-325-0778.
- Visit your local SSA office.
- If you worked for the railroad, you might need to apply through the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). For more information, call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772.
What Is the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Louisiana?
If you’re looking for the best Medicare Advantage in Louisiana, it depends on your specific needs and other details, like where you live. Also, availability varies by location, and what works for someone in New Orleans may not fit a person in Houma. To figure out which Medicare Advantage plans may work for your needs, here is a breakdown of the main types of policies and how they work:
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): HMOs use primary care physicians to manage care. With HMOs, you can mainly see doctors within your provider network.
- Preferred Partner Organization (PPO): With a PPO, you have greater freedom to visit out-of-network doctors and providers.
- Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS): PFFS policies provide separate payments to your providers for each service you receive.
- Special Needs Plan (SNP): SNPs are designed for patients living with certain diseases or health conditions. D-SNP plans assist dual-eligible individuals; C-SNP plans are for patients with chronic diseases.
Find the Medicare Advantage plan that meets your needs.
How Much Do I Pay for Medicare in 2025?
Are you or a loved one shopping for Medicare and need to put together a budget? What you’ll pay for Medicare depends on your needs and the specific plan you choose. To give you an idea of these expenses, here are Original Medicare’s standard costs for 2025:
Medicare Part A
Premium:
- $0 if you or your spouse worked 10 or more years
- $285 a month if you worked between 7.5 and 10 years
- $518 a month if you worked fewer than 7.5 years
Deductible:
- $1,676 each plan period
Copayments & Coinsurance:
- Hospital stays: $0 copay for Days 1-60 following deductible payment; daily charges for Days 61 and after
- Skilled Nursing Facility: $0 for Days 1-20 (each plan period); daily charges for Days 21 and after
Medicare Part B
Premium:
- $185 monthly and up (income-based)
Deductible:
- $257 for each plan period
Copayments & Coinsurance:
- Most preventative services: $0
- Medicare-approved services: 20% coinsurance
Medicare Part D
Premium:
- Income-based; varies by plan
Deductible:
- No more than $590 in 2025
Copayments & Coinsurance:
- Plan- and drug-specific
What Medicare Plans are Required at 65?
You are not required to have Medicare in Louisiana. However, not enrolling when you’re first eligible can leave you with heavy enrollment penalties when you do sign up.
These fees are avoidable, however, by enrolling when you’re first eligible for Medicare in Louisiana. Here are the three parts of Medicare that will charge enrollment penalties if you don’t:
What Are the Different Medicare Plans Available?
There are two main ways to receive medicare in Louisiana: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Advantage. Each has its own pros and cons. Depending on which of these you choose, you may also be able to supplement your coverage with other Medicare parts to round out your health care.
Here is more information on the different Medicare plans in Louisiana:
MEDICARE PART A
The hospital portion of Original Medicare. This helps cover:
- Inpatient care
- Some home health care
- Skilled nursing home care
- Hospice care
MEDICARE PART B
The medical portion of Original Medicare. This helps cover:
- Medical treatment from doctors and other providers
- Some home health care
- Outpatient treatments
- Some durable medical equipment, including wheelchairs
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (PART C)
Medicare Advantage is an alternative to Original Medicare.
- Medicare Advantage substitutes for Parts A and Part B.
- These plans often include other coverage, such as dental, hearing, vision, and prescription drugs.
- Medicare Advantage plans must provide at least the same level of care as Original Medicare.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS (PART D)
Prescription drug coverage provided in part by private insurers.
- Generic, name-brand, and specialty drug tiers.
- Commercially available vaccines not covered by Medicare Part B.
MEDICARE IN LA: MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE (MEDIGAP)
Original Medicare enrollees often have trouble with the out-of-pocket costs that can come with Part A and B benefits. You can purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), private plans that help cover copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other services.
- In Louisiana, these 10 plan options are labeled by letters from A to N.
- Paid separately from your Original Medicare.
- Cannot be used with Medicare Advantage.
Looking for dental, vision and hearing coverage?
Are Medicare Advantage Plans Right for Me?
Figuring out whether Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage in Louisiana gets you the most health value comes down to several factors. Where you live, your health needs, and your savings — all of these will impact your choice. Medicare Advantage isn’t the best fit for every Louisianan, but for many, the additional coverage is a good reason to switch from Original Medicare.
Decide for yourself what you think about Medicare Advantage in Louisiana. Here are some steps you can take to weigh your choices:
- Learn the Pros and Cons of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
- Review your needs with our Enrollment Checklist.
- Learn how to read the Medicare Star Ratings and see how plans stack up.
- Get our Pro Tips for making Medicare easier.
- Receive impartial guidance and needed answers from a licensed insurance agent at GoHealth. One quick call will help you figure out which plans fit your needs. Give us a call at 1-855-792-0088.
Thousands of older adults enroll in Medicare every day across the United States. The latest CMS data shows that 850,434 people are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B in Louisiana. The total number of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage increased from 357,794 to 394,341 year over year. Medicare Advantage participation in Louisiana went from 43.01% to 46.37% year over year. If you’d like to dive deeper into how Medicare in Louisiana breaks down across the state, we provide a glance at who is using Medicare and how.
850,434 Beneficiaries with Part A & Part B
394,341 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries
46.37% Medicare Advantage Participation Rate
54.24% Female
45.76% Male
71.72% Non-Hispanic White
23.42% African American
1.98% Hispanic
2.87% Other/Unknown
25.80% Eligible for Medicaid
1.08 Average HCC Score
$11,704.47 Actual Per Capita Costs
18.62% Hospital Readmission Rate
30.55% % of Beneficiaries with an Emergency Department Visit
357,794 Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries, Previous Year
Increased Medicare Advantage, Year over year
43.01% Medicare Advantage Participation Rate, Previous Year
Table reflects the latest Beneficiary Demographics Data: Medicare Geographic Variation – by National, State & County
Average HCC Score: The Hierarchical Condition Category score gauges a population’s overall health. The score is based on a value of 1.0. Populations with an HCC score of less than 1.0 are considered relatively healthy. The score can be used to estimate health costs.
Louisiana Department of Insurance
https://www.ldi.la.gov/home
What should I know about the Louisiana Department of Insurance?
Visit LDI to access financial assistance through the state’s Medicare Savings Program and SeniorRx.
Louisiana Medicaid
https://ldh.la.gov/subhome/1
What should I know about Louisiana Medicaid?
Louisiana’s health insurance for low-income adults, families, and children.
Louisiana Department of Health
https://ldh.la.gov/
What Should I know about the Louisiana Department of Health?
File complaints, report abuse and fraud; info on home, community-based, and long-term care.
Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs
https://goea.louisiana.gov/
What Should I know about the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs?
Oversees the state’s Area Agencies on Aging and provides community-based and long-term resources.
Nationwide Resources
Speak with a GoHealth insurance agent that is licensed in Louisiana about your Medicare questions.
Mon – Fri, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. CT
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
You can reach the Social Security Administration by phone for general questions. Not all questions can be answered over the phone.
Also, SSA.gov provides online resources for the following: Review information, apply for benefits, or manage your account online
1-800-722-1213
TTY 1-800-325-0778
Speak to SSA Representative, Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 7 PM ET
Medicare Learning Guides
Healthcare is personal. So is choosing insurance. If you are new to Medicare, a beneficiary researching options, or a caregiver, we have tailored Medicare Guides for you.
Before 65 Guide
Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement
Medicare Plans Guide
Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan
Medicare Beneficiary Guide
For those currently enrolled in Medicare
Low Income and Medicare Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
A Caregiver's Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
Sources
- Apply for Benefits. SSA.gov.
- Social Security Office Locator. SSA.gov.
- Special Needs Plans (SNP) . Medicare.gov.
This website is operated by GoHealth, LLC., a licensed health insurance company. The website and its contents are for informational and educational purposes; helping people understand Medicare in a simple way. The purpose of this website is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by a licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Our mission is to help every American get better health insurance and save money.
Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.