Medicaid Members Face April 1 Plan Change as UnitedHealthcare Exits Louisiana Program
New Orleans, LA – March 25, 2026 – Louisiana Medicaid members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare must select a new plan before April 1 to avoid coverage disruption.
Louisiana Medicaid members in New Orleans who are currently enrolled in UnitedHealthcare have less than a week to transition to a new managed care plan before coverage changes take effect April 1, 2026.
The state’s Healthy Louisiana enrollment website confirms that UnitedHealthcare will no longer participate in the Louisiana Medicaid program beginning April 1. Members who do not select a new health plan before that date will be automatically assigned to another participating plan.
Coverage Transition Set for April 1
According to Healthy Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare coverage continues through March 31, 2026. New plan selections made before 6 p.m. on March 30 are scheduled to begin April 1. Changes submitted after that deadline are set to take effect May 1.
The transition affects Medicaid recipients across the state, including many families in Orleans Parish who rely on managed care plans for primary care, specialist visits, prescriptions and behavioral health services.
Healthy Louisiana directs members to review plan networks carefully, including whether current doctors, hospitals and pharmacies participate in the new plan. Members can compare options and enroll through the state’s enrollment portal or by contacting Medicaid customer service.
What Residents Should Know
Only managed care coverage through UnitedHealthcare is ending; Louisiana Medicaid itself is not ending. Members remain eligible for benefits as long as they continue to meet Medicaid requirements.
Residents enrolled in UnitedHealthcare should confirm their new plan selection and check identification cards before scheduled appointments in April. Health systems in the New Orleans area, including major hospital networks and community clinics, contract with multiple Medicaid plans, but participation can vary by provider and service line.
Members with questions about eligibility are advised by the state to contact Louisiana Medicaid directly. Plan comparison tools and enrollment resources are available through the Healthy Louisiana website.
If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care. For general questions, talk with a licensed clinician.
