Medicare in Louisiana: 2026 Plans, Costs, and Enrollment Guide

Louisiana Medicare Snapshot

Louisiana has 117 Medicare Advantage plans from 11 carriers for 2026 (CMS CY2026 Landscape), with availability across all 64 Louisiana parishes. The Louisiana Medigap market uses the standard federal plan letters with attained-age pricing and is shaped by the Louisiana Medigap Birthday Rule (La. R.S. 22:1090.1; Acts 2022 No. 459, as amended by Acts 2023 No. 71) — a 63-day annual no-underwriting open enrollment window for current Medigap policyholders starting on their birthday.

The average consolidated MA premium is $13.35/month (CMS CY2026 Landscape). The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90/month in 2026. Top MA carriers by plan count: Humana (33), Aetna Medicare (15), and Peoples Health (12) — Peoples Health is a Louisiana-focused regional carrier.

Plan Types Available in Louisiana

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

In Louisiana, 117 MA plans are available for 2026 from 11 carriers (CMS CY2026 Landscape). The largest plan-type categories are PPO (25), HMO (16), HMO-POS (14), HMO D-SNP (13), and HMO-POS D-SNP (8); additional MA plans fall outside these top categories.

Top carriers by plan count: Humana (33 plans), Aetna Medicare (15 plans), and Peoples Health (12 plans). Peoples Health is a Louisiana-focused regional carrier. Average MA star rating is 3.86.

Medigap (Medicare Supplement)

Louisiana uses the standard federal Medigap plan letters (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N, plus HDG and HDF). 32 carriers offer Plan G in Louisiana in the TPP rate database (CY2026, non-tobacco, ages 65–85). Plans C, F, and High-Deductible Plan F (HDF) are closed to anyone who first became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020 (under MACRA 2015); beneficiaries who were Medicare-eligible before that date may still buy Plans C, F, or HDF from carriers that continue to offer them. High-Deductible Plan G (HDG) is the post-2020 high-deductible Medigap option and is offered by 24 Louisiana carriers.

Louisiana Medigap rates use attained-age pricing — premiums increase as you age. Current Louisiana Medigap policyholders also benefit from the Louisiana Birthday Rule annual window (see Louisiana-Specific Medicare Rules below). See our MA vs Medigap comparison →

Standalone Part D (Prescription Drug Plans)

Louisiana is a single-state PDP region (CMS PDP Region 21). For 2026, there are 10 standalone PDP plans from 5 carriers in Louisiana (CMS CY2026 Landscape).

Costs in Louisiana

Medicare Advantage Premiums

The average consolidated MA premium in Louisiana is $13.35/month (CMS 2026 Medicare MA & Part D Landscape State-by-State Fact Sheet). The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90/month in 2026.

Medigap Premiums — Plan G and HDG

Louisiana Medigap rates use attained-age pricing (premiums based on current age). Across the 32 Louisiana Plan G carriers (non-tobacco, ages 65–85), Plan G monthly premiums in 2026 range from approximately $144 to $616/month (TPP rate database, CY2026).

High-Deductible Plan G (HDG) is offered by 24 Louisiana carriers; premiums range from approximately $134 to $862/month (TPP rate database, CY2026, non-tobacco, ages 65–85). HDG works well for beneficiaries who want catastrophic protection at a lower monthly cost and can absorb the $2,950 annual deductible (2026 CMS high-deductible Medigap deductible).

Part D Costs and the LIS Benchmark

For 2026, Louisiana (PDP Region 21 — single-state) has 10 standalone PDP plans from 5 carriers (CMS CY2026 Landscape). The CMS Low Income Subsidy (LIS / Extra Help) benchmark premium for Region 21 is $32.89/month (CMS CY2026 Regional Rates and Benchmarks).

Louisiana-Specific Medicare Rules

Louisiana Medigap Birthday Rule (La. R.S. 22:1090.1)

Louisiana law gives Medicare Supplement policyholders a 63-day annual open enrollment window starting on their birthday. The statute (codified at La. R.S. 22:1090.1, enacted by Acts 2022 No. 459 and amended by Acts 2023 No. 71) provides:

• Window:63 calendar days beginning on the policyholder's birthday each year.
• Eligibility: The policyholder must already have a Medicare Supplement policy in force at the time of their birthday.
• Allowed switch: The policyholder may purchase any Medicare Supplement policy offered by the same issuer or any affiliate authorized to transact business in Louisiana.
• No medical underwriting: The issuer of the new policy cannot deny or condition coverage, nor discriminate in pricing, due to health status, claims experience, receipt of health care, or medical condition.

Note: Unlike Maryland's Birthday Rule (which allows switching to any Maryland-licensed carrier) or Missouri's Anniversary Rule (which keys off the policy anniversary), Louisiana's rule is keyed to the policyholder's birthday and limits the no-underwriting switch to policies offered by the existing issuer or its affiliates. If you want to move to a different carrier outside that issuer family, you may need to undergo medical underwriting at the new carrier's discretion.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)

Louisiana offers Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) through the Louisiana Department of Health (Medicaid):

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): Covers Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): Covers Part B premiums only.
• QI (Qualifying Individual): Also covers Part B premiums; subject to annual appropriations.

Apply through the Louisiana Department of Health (Medicaid) or contact Louisiana SHIIP (1-800-259-5301) for free enrollment assistance. MSP enrollment also automatically qualifies you for Extra Help / LIS on Part D. Learn more about MSPs →

Louisiana SHIIP

Louisiana SHIIP (State Health Insurance Information Assistance Program) is Louisiana's federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), administered by the Louisiana Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs. SHIIP provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling statewide.

Phone: 1-800-259-5301
Website: goea.louisiana.gov/ship

Enrolling in Medicare in Louisiana

Standard Enrollment Periods

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7-month window centered on your 65th birthday month. Enroll at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
• Annual Election Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7 each year.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP): January 1 – March 31.
• Louisiana Birthday Rule (Medigap): 63-day window starting on your birthday — same issuer/affiliate, no underwriting (La. R.S. 22:1090.1).
• Federal 6-month Medigap OEP: Starts when you are 65+ and enrolled in Part B; first-time Medigap guaranteed-issue.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Learn more →

Louisiana SHIIP Counseling

Contact Louisiana SHIIP at 1-800-259-5301 for free one-on-one Medicare guidance statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions