Medicare Advantage Plans in Louisiana
Key Takeaways
- If you’re enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), you can opt into a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) in Louisiana.
- Medicare-eligible people across Louisiana have access to Part C plans.
- Every Medicare beneficiary in Louisiana has access to at least one Part C plan with a $0 monthly deductible.
- Many Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana include prescription drug coverage.
- If you have a qualifying disability or illness, you may be able to opt into Medicare Advantage even if you’re under 65.
Louisianans have access to a range of Medicare Advantage plans that provide a variety of benefits and coverage. Read on to learn about Medicare Advantage in Louisiana and how you can find the option that best fits your needs.
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Louisiana Medicare Advantage Plan Coverage
In 2024, Louisiana had 99 Medicare Advantage plans available in various parts of the state. But what exactly is Medicare Advantage, and how does it differ from Original Medicare?
Medicare Advantage plans are also known as Medicare Part C. It’s a type of Medicare plan offered by private insurance companies. The providers that offer Part C are approved by Medicare and are required by law to follow specific rules and guidelines.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything that Parts A and B of Original Medicare does.
With a Medicare Advantage plan, you have coverage for inpatient services received in facilities such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice care facilities.
Medicare Advantage also provides coverage for outpatient services such as primary care doctor and specialist visits, laboratory tests, clinical trials, preventive care and durable medical equipment.
Medicare Advantage plans also cover healthcare services and benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t, including Part D prescription drug coverage (people with Original Medicare must purchase a separate Part D plan for coverage). If your Medicare Advantage plan covers prescription drugs, you don’t need to purchase additional coverage for medications.
Part C coverage often includes these extras you won’t find with Original Medicare:
- Vision care
- Dental care
- Hearing care, including hearing aids
- Health and wellness programs such as free SilverSneakers gym memberships
- Transportation
- Over-the-counter items
LA Medicare Advantage Plan Costs
- In Louisiana, the average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan in 2024 was $20.42. However, no matter where you live in the state, you have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 monthly premium.
- The Medicare Part B monthly premium also applies. Most Medicare beneficiaries in Louisiana pay the standard Part B premium of $185 in 2025.
- Other costs you may incur include deductibles, copays and coinsurance. These vary by plan and are often determined by your choice of using in-network or out-of-network plan providers.
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Medicare Advantage Plan Eligibility and Enrollment in Louisiana
Louisianans who enroll in Original Medicare are also eligible for Medicare Advantage.
Most people in Louisiana become eligible for Medicare when they turn 65.
To be eligible for Medicare, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five consecutive years. In addition, you must meet one of these requirements:
- You’re 65 years old or older.
- You have a qualifying chronic disability.
- You have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
- You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
- You’ve received disability benefits from Social Security for at least 24 months (An exception to the 24-month rule is made for people with ALS. If you have ALS, you can start receiving Medicare the first month you get disability benefits).
- If you have ESRD, you can get Medicare provided you’re on dialysis, or are a kidney transplant patient. You may begin coverage the first day of the fourth month you start getting dialysis.
Initial Enrollment Period – If you’re Medicare-eligible due to age, initial enrollment starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months afterwards, for a total of seven months.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period – Also known as the Annual Enrollment Period, you can join, switch or drop a plan in Louisiana from October 15–December 7 each year.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period – If you’re already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you can switch to a Medicare Advantage plan or to Original Medicare from January 1 to March 31 each year. However, if you have Original Medicare, you can’t switch Medicare Advantage during this period.
Special Enrollment Period – Special enrollment periods are triggered by personal events specific to you that affect your health insurance. These include losing your current health insurance or moving to a new location that is not in your current plan’s coverage area.
Are There Louisiana Medicare Advantage Plans With Prescription Drug Coverage?
There are many Medicare Advantage plans offered throughout Louisiana that include Part D prescription drug coverage.
Each plan is based upon a formulary. This formulary lets you know what medications will be covered, and how much they will cost. Formularies feature tiers made up of generic, brand name and specialty drugs. Every drug plan must, by law, include one or more drugs that are commonly prescribed for conditions like arthritis, asthma, heart disease, thyroid disease, and cancer.
Some Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana have a $0 monthly premium for prescription drug coverage. Some also have a $0 annual drug deductible. However, in some instances you may decide that a more expensive plan will provide more coverage and better savings in the long run. This may be determined by the medications you need to control a specific condition.
A GoHealth licensed insurance agent will be happy to guide you through each plan’s fine print, so you’ll know exactly what is covered and what you can expect to pay. Choosing the right plan provides peace of mind. It’s also a proactive way to ensure you get the healthcare coverage you need and deserve.
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
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Sources
- FACT SHEET. CMS.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.