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Louisiana Health Insurance Companies
LouisianaHealth Insurance Resources
How to Get the Most Savings
Louisiana Health Insurance FAQS
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Louisiana
Louisiana Health Insurance Companies
Several cheap health insurance options are available in Louisiana from four of the top providers that offer regional plans:
Vantage Health Plan
Vantage Health Plan, one of Louisiana’s leading health insurance companies, provides both HMO and POS plans. They also offer Marketplace plans, short-term insurance policies, and Medicare Advantage plans.
CHRISTUS Health
Residents of Louisiana may be eligible for a hometown HMO-style plan, subject to eligibility. This means that, if you qualify for one of these plans, all medical and hospital expenses for you and your family, as well as all prescription medications on the drug list of the CHRISTUS Health Plan, will be fully covered.
This plan covers a variety of care visits, including inpatient, primary, specialist, prenatal and postnatal, urgent and emergency, preventive screenings, and vaccines. Depending on your income, you might qualify for financial aid through their partnership with Medicare.
HMO Louisiana
HMO Louisiana is a division of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. They offer two managed-care benefit plans:
- Point of Service (POS) – This type of plan enables members to choose whether to use a network provider or go out-of-network and pay a bit more for services. That means members with POS benefit plans get the most benefits when using network providers.
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) – This benefit plan is similar to the POS plan in that members of both have access to the same provider network and receive the same kinds of benefits. The exception is that the HMO plan does not offer an out-of-network option.
Louisiana Health Services & Indemnity Company
Louisiana Health Service and Indemnity, the biggest health insurer in the state, does business under Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. HMOs, PPOs, Medicare Supplement Plans, traditional indemnity plans, a BlueSaver high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA), and other plan types are all available through BCBSLA. In addition, a point-of-service (POS) plan that includes some out-of-network benefits is provided by its HMO Louisiana subsidiary.
Health Insurance Marketplace in Louisiana
If you’re looking for a health insurance plan in Louisiana, the health insurance Marketplace is a great place to start. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state in order to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in Louisiana who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
Louisiana’s Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP) or have a need for health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, though, both at the federal and the state level. Some states choose to have their own guidelines separate from federal guidelines, including Louisiana. Louisiana’s guidelines say that you can purchase a short-term health plan for 12 months with the option to renew your plan up to three times.
But despite these rules, most short-term health plans in Louisiana are only in effect for 6 months. This is because the law says that companies can deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions within 12 months prior to enrollment in their plan. And since most companies look further back than that amount of time, most plans end up being capped at six months.
Louisiana Health Insurance Resources
There are multiple options available to you when it comes to finding health insurance plans. Your employer might actually be one of the resources you have at your disposal. Speak to your employer to see if they offer a group plan, because these plans are typically less expensive than individual or family plans, since businesses can get group policies for cheaper than individuals can get individual policies.
Government-assisted programs can also be helpful. Medicare provides medical insurance to citizens 65 or older, or to adults with certain disabilities. And Medicaid provides affordable or free health insurance to low-income individuals and families.
Working with an agent is an option, as well. You can compare both on-and off-Marketplace options with the help of an agent. They can ensure that your insurance will cover all of your health needs.
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How to Get the Most Savings
When it comes to healthcare costs, Louisiana is among the top 5 most expensive states. The state ranks 2nd most expensive out of all 50 states for healthcare spending per capita, with an average annual health care expense of $9,796 per person. But there are steps you can take to reduce the cost of your health insurance.
Your health is the best place to start. In Louisiana, the obesity rate is high at 35.9%, so there are many residents who could lower their health insurance premiums by lowering their body mass index (BMI). Maintaining a healthy BMI can help you get the most affordable health insurance rates.
Another variable affecting the cost of health insurance is tobacco use. Smokers’ health insurance premiums can cost up to 50% more than non-smokers’ premiums.
But working with a trained agent is the quickest way to make sure you find the most savings. EZ’s agents are experts at locating plans that fit your budget, and at finding any local discounts to save you even more money. Working with an EZ agent can even save you hundreds of dollars a year. Additionally, all of our services are free!
Louisiana Health Insurance FAQS
Does Louisiana require you to have health insurance?
No, Louisiana does not require residents to have health insurance. The Affordable Care Act no longer includes a federal tax penalty for not having coverage, and Louisiana is not a state that requires residents to have insurance.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Louisiana?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $430 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
How much does health insurance cost in Louisiana?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in Louisiana is $677, or $8,124 per year, with plans as low as $430 a month to as high as $1,633. But do not let these numbers scare you. Many uninsured people in Louisiana qualify for a $0 Bronze plan and don’t even know it.
Which insurance companies offer plans in Louisiana?
The top 4 insurers in Louisiana are CHRISTUS Health Plan Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, and Vantage Health Plan.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Louisiana
There are several options for signing up for a health insurance plan in Louisiana. You can go directly through your chosen insurance company or through your employer, if they offer a plan. There is no state-run exchange in Louisiana, so you can also head to the federal Health Insurance Marketplace to look for a plan. There you can compare and shop for health plans offered by participating companies – just be aware that not all insurers offer all of their plans on the Marketplace. That means it’s important to speak to an agent to see all of your options.
In fact, regardless of how you want to enroll, EZ is here to help. One of our highly trained local agents can evaluate all of your options and help you select the best one, and then guide you through the enrollment process.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
