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Louisiana Medicaid Guidelines

Medicaid benefits provide medical care for vulnerable segments of the population that cannot afford insurance coverage. The federal government collects tax money for this program and then distributes money to individual states, such as Louisiana. The state of Louisiana then determines eligibility guidelines for the population and distributes these monies to cover health care for the poor through the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH).

  1. Eligibility

    • Louisiana residents age 65 or over, who are not covered by Medicare, qualify for Medicaid, as well as those individuals who suffer from blindness or disability. Families with children and pregnant women may apply to the program. The mentally institutionalized and early widows may apply for Louisiana Medicaid. Women who suffer from breast or cervical cancer automatically receive medical benefits regardless of income. The state considers residents with tuberculosis to automatically qualify for the program.

    Income

    • The state of Louisiana determines Medicaid eligibility by using the federal poverty level (FPL) guidelines. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this amount varies depending upon the number of dependents in the household. As of 2010, each additional member of a household adds $3,740 to a base amount of $10,830 in allowable annual income. Most recipients must not exceed 100% of the FPL, although certain groups, such as pregnant women, cannot exceed 185% of the FPL to qualify for benefits.

    Residency

    • All applicants to the Louisiana Medicaid program must be legal residents of the state and cannot be undocumented. Illegal immigrants only qualify for emergency medical benefits in certain circumstances, such as emergency room visits. Refugees, brought into the state from a disaster area or war zone, may qualify for temporary Medicaid benefits.

    Application

    • According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Medicaid applicants who do not automatically qualify for the program via Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) must submit an application to receive benefits. Applicants submit a Louisiana Medicaid application to their local social services office.

    Documentation

    • According to the DHH, Louisiana residents must submit personal information, including proof of citizenship and evidence of a disability or children. Applicants must also submit bank account records, insurance information, property records and vehicle titles, if requested. A case worker will review this information and conduct an interview if the applicant meets Louisiana Medicaid guidelines. According to the DHH, applicants receive a final decision after 45 days (90 days for disability) and may receive benefits within three months of application.

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