WELL, IF YOU’RE IN THE MARKET FOR INSURANCE, YOU NEED TO BE REALLY CAREFUL MAKING A DECISION ON A PROVIDER AS SOME MAJOR CHANGES ARE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE SAYS THAT UNITEDHEALTHCARE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR SOME FOLKS IN OUR STATE, AND WDSU JONAH GILMORE IS LIVE WITH MORE ON WHO THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT AND REALLY WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. JONAH. YEAH, OPEN ENROLLMENT BEGINS TOMORROW, AND A LOT OF PATIENTS WILL BE FORCED TO FIND A DIFFERENT PROVIDER. NOW, THE LOUISIANA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER SAYS UNITEDHEALTHCARE WILL NOT BE OFFERING INDIVIDUAL COVERAGE ON THE MARKETPLACE IN JEFFERSON, ORLEANS, PLAQUEMINES AND SAINT CHARLES PARISHES THIS YEAR. NOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THIS NEWS WILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH COVERAGE. FAMILIES CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AN INDIVIDUAL UNITEDHEALTHCARE PLAN IN THOSE FOUR PARISHES WOULD NEED TO CHOOSE A PLAN OFFERED BY ANOTHER CARRIER BY DECEMBER 15TH. THE STATE’S INSURANCE COMMISSIONER SAYS HIS OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO REVIEW AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION TO PROTECT CONSUMERS, AS THIS MOVE COMES AFTER UHC AND LCMC FAILED TO REACH A CONTRACT AGREEMENT. A FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN EXPLAINING HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. IT’S SHOCKING THAT THEY DIDN’T COME TO AN AGREEMENT. THESE THINGS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BETWEEN INSURERS AND HOSPITAL SYSTEMS OR DOCTOR’S OFFICES, BECAUSE THE COST OF CARE INCREASES. SO YOU HAVE TO RENEGOTIATE THE INSURANCE RATES. SO IT’S STANDARD, BUT IT’S NOT STANDARD FOR SUCH A LARGE INSURANCE CARRIER TO NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH A LARGE INSURANCE, A LARGE HOSPITAL SYSTEM. NOW, IN A STATEMENT, LCMC SAYS THIS IMPACTS COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, INCLUDING EMPLOYER SPONSORED PLANS AND PLANS PURCHASED THROUGH THE ACA MARKETPLACE. PATIENTS WITH MEDICARE ADVANTAGE OR MEDICAID PLANS THROUGH UNITEDHEALTHCARE ARE NOT AFFECTED. REPORTING LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS,
UnitedHealthcare won’t be offered on Health Insurance Marketplace for four Louisiana parishes
The Louisiana Insurance Commissioner is warning residents that a major insurance plan will not be offered in four parishes for Open Enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace for the coming year. This only impacts individuals and families shopping on the individual marketplace, according to LDI. Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage begins on Nov. 1 in Louisiana. This allows residents to make changes to their coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Those who enroll in a plan by Dec. 15 will have coverage beginning Jan. 1. Those who wait until the final deadline of Jan. 15 will have coverage beginning Feb. 1. However, according to the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, UnitedHealthcare will not be offering coverage through the marketplace for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, or St. Charles Parish this year. The Louisiana Department of Insurance urges residents with these health plans to enroll in another plan that offers similar coverage by Dec. 15. While UnitedHealthcare will offer coverage in Louisiana’s 60 other parishes, the company will be missing from the Health Insurance Marketplace until the next HealthCare.gov system update, which is expected to occur about one week into November. This is so that those four parishes can be removed as an option for residents signing up for individual plans. Health insurers offering individual marketplace plans in Louisiana for 2026 are: Ambetter Health of Louisiana, Amerihealth Caritas Louisiana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, CHRISTUS Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. “UnitedHealthcare will be initially unavailable throughout the state until Healthcare.gov can be updated to remove Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Charles from its coverage areas due to the loss of the LCMC hospital system from UnitedHealthcare’s individual market network,” Commissioner Tim Temple said in an issued statement. “My office will continue to review and take necessary action to protect consumers.”The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers the following tips regarding Open Enrollment: Review your options. Plans and premiums can change each year. This year has included significant federal changes, resulting in premium increases and alterations to plan offerings. It is important to review the options offered in your area and ensure your plan selection includes your doctors and suits your health needs. Meet deadlines. If you enroll in a plan by Dec. 15, your coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2026. If you enroll after Dec. 15 but by the final deadline of Jan. 15, your coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2026. If you do not elect coverage by Jan. 15, you will be unable to get an individual marketplace plan unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying life change. Contact an agent. A licensed health insurance agent can help you understand your options, answer questions you may have and determine if you qualify for a premium tax credit.
The Louisiana Insurance Commissioner is warning residents that a major insurance plan will not be offered in four parishes for Open Enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace for the coming year.
This only impacts individuals and families shopping on the individual marketplace, according to LDI.
Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage begins on Nov. 1 in Louisiana. This allows residents to make changes to their coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Those who enroll in a plan by Dec. 15 will have coverage beginning Jan. 1. Those who wait until the final deadline of Jan. 15 will have coverage beginning Feb. 1.
However, according to the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, UnitedHealthcare will not be offering coverage through the marketplace for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, or St. Charles Parish this year.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance urges residents with these health plans to enroll in another plan that offers similar coverage by Dec. 15.
While UnitedHealthcare will offer coverage in Louisiana’s 60 other parishes, the company will be missing from the Health Insurance Marketplace until the next HealthCare.gov system update, which is expected to occur about one week into November. This is so that those four parishes can be removed as an option for residents signing up for individual plans.
Health insurers offering individual marketplace plans in Louisiana for 2026 are: Ambetter Health of Louisiana, Amerihealth Caritas Louisiana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, CHRISTUS Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.
“UnitedHealthcare will be initially unavailable throughout the state until Healthcare.gov can be updated to remove Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Charles from its coverage areas due to the loss of the LCMC hospital system from UnitedHealthcare’s individual market network,” Commissioner Tim Temple said in an issued statement. “My office will continue to review and take necessary action to protect consumers.”
The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers the following tips regarding Open Enrollment:
- Review your options. Plans and premiums can change each year. This year has included significant federal changes, resulting in premium increases and alterations to plan offerings. It is important to review the options offered in your area and ensure your plan selection includes your doctors and suits your health needs.
- Meet deadlines. If you enroll in a plan by Dec. 15, your coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2026. If you enroll after Dec. 15 but by the final deadline of Jan. 15, your coverage will begin Feb. 1, 2026. If you do not elect coverage by Jan. 15, you will be unable to get an individual marketplace plan unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to a qualifying life change.
- Contact an agent. A licensed health insurance agent can help you understand your options, answer questions you may have and determine if you qualify for a premium tax credit.
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