Louisiana Medicaid
Louisiana's Medicaid Program provides medical coverage for needy Louisiana residents who qualify.
Individuals who receive SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) automatically get Medicaid.
Families who get help from the Office of Family Support (OFS) through the FAMILY INDEPENDENCE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FITAP) also get Medicaid.
Individuals or families who do not receive SSI or FITAP cash may also qualify for Medicaid IF the individual or family belongs to one of the following coverage groups:
AGED - individuals who are age 65 or older,
BLIND - individuals who have corrected vision no better than 20/200,
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN - individuals who are or families with:
􀃎 a pregnant member, or
􀃎 a child under age 18 deprived of the support of at least one parent, or
􀃎 a child under age 19, or
􀃎 a woman who needs treatment for breast or cervical cancer,
OR
DISABLED - individuals who meet SSA's disability criteria and have physical or mental impairments that prevent employment for a period of 12 consecutive months or that will result in death
AND
the individual or family meets all of the eligibility requirements of one or more of the following Medicaid programs:
Breast and Cervical Cancer
CHAMP (for children under age 19)
LaMOMS (for pregnant women)
Deemed Newborn
Emergency Medical Services ONLY (for certain aliens)
Extended Medicaid (for those who have lost SSI due to receipt of Social Security benefits or some other income)
LaCHIP (for children under age 19 who are not insured)
Long Term Care (includes Waivers)
􀃍 NURSING FACILITY OR MR/DD FACILITY
􀃍 ACUTE CARE REHABILITATION
􀃍 HOME & COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
􀃎 ADULT DAY HEALTH
􀃎 CHILDREN’S CHOICE
􀃎 ELDERLY & DISABLED ADULT
􀃎 NEW OPPORTUNITIES WAIVER
Low Income Families with Children
Medicaid Purchase Plan
Medically Needy Program
􀃍 REGULAR MEDICALLY NEEDY PROGRAM
􀃍 SPEND-DOWN MEDICALLY NEEDY PROGRAM
Medicare Savings Programs
􀃍 QUALIFIED DISABLED WORKING INDIVIDUAL
􀃍 QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL
􀃍 QUALIFIED MEDICARE BENEFICIARY
􀃍 SPECIFIED LOW INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARY
Presumptive Eligibility (for pregnant women)
Transitional Medicaid
Tuberculosis Infected Individuals
HOW DO I APPLY?
An individual or family who does not get SSI or FITAP must fill out an application form. Applying may begin with either a face-to-face or telephone interview, but an interview is not required. Applying can be done personally or by an authorized representative by mail, at a local Medicaid office, or at a Medicaid Application Center.
Applicants may be asked to provide written proof, or other evidence of:
􀀹 identification;
􀀹 age;
􀀹 citizenship;
􀀹 Social Security number;
􀀹 residence;
􀀹 marital status;
􀀹 household composition; and
􀀹 income from all sources.
Applicants for some programs are also asked to provide evidence of:
􀀹 incapacity/disability (if applicable); and
􀀹 bank accounts, insurance policies, property, and vehicles.
Processing times vary, depending on the coverage group and program under consideration; the amount of information the person is able to provide; and how quickly all needed information is made available to Medicaid staff. Federal regulations allow 90 days to complete the process for applications requiring a disability decision and 45 days for all others. Applicants have the right to appeal if a timely decision is not made.
Coverage is reviewed in periods of 3, 6, or 12 months and may begin as early as 3 months before the month of application, if all eligibility requirements are met. Continuing eligibility is reviewed at least once each year.
Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals
628 N. 4th Street
P.O. Box 629 (Zip 70821-0629)
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Phone: (225)342-9500
dhhwebadmin@la.gov
