Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Louisiana
Over 20 insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage in Louisiana. Find out which ones are the top performers.
To enroll in Medicare Advantage in Louisiana, you must first be enrolled in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B). You will be required to pay Part B costs. The standard monthly Medicare Part B premium for 2022 is $170.10. The annual Part B deducible for 2022 is $233.
Louisiana Enrollment Facts:
1. Number of people enrollment in Medicare Advantage in Louisiana: 361,594
Local HMO – 248,480
Local PPO – 27,103
Regional PPO – 16,085
2. Enrolled in Medicare Advantage in Louisiana: 40%
Top rated Medicare Advantage plan companies in Louisiana
Popular Medicare Advantage plan types in Louisiana
Medicare Advantage PPO
- PPO plans offer a larger network and no referrals are required.
- PPO premiums range from $0 to $100 per month.
Medicare Advantage HMO Plan
- HMO premiums are generally $0 per month.
- HMO plans have lower out-of-pocket costs because they use the HMO referral network.
Medicare Advantage D-SNIP
Medicare Advantage D-SNIP plans are best for those on limited incomes or who have chronic health conditions. Enrollees on this type of plan can have Medicare AND Medicaid to lower out-of-pocket costs on things like copays, coinsurance, and premiums. Part B deductibles will usually be $0 to a small amount.
- A Louisiana Medicare Advantage plan may include some extra benefits not covered by Original Medicare such as:
- Vision care benefits
- Dental care benefits
- Hearing exam and hearing aid assistance
- MAPD plans have built-in prescription drug coverage
- Gym memberships or other fitness and wellness benefits
When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan?
Initial Enrollment Period
Your Initial Enrollment Period begins three months before your 65th birthday month and ends three months after your birthday month.
Once you enroll in Original Medicare, you can choose to purchase a Medicare Advantage plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans have built-in prescription drug coverage.
Alternatively, you may choose a Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap) to work alongside Original Medicare to help pay some of the out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare.
Open Enrollment Period – AKA Annual Election Period
The Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) happens every year from October 15 to December 7. If you did not enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period upon turning 65, you may have a second chance during the fall Annual Enrollment Period.
You can also change from one plan to another (MA or PD) or choose to drop either of these without replacing it.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period goes from January 1 to March 31 annually. At this time, you can switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare.
Special Enrollment Periods – Special Circumstances
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) can occur at any time of the year under certain circumstances. Some situations that might make you eligible for SEP would be:
- Medicare terminated your Medicare Advantage plan’s contract
- You lost your employment-based insurance coverage
- You moved to a location outside your current MA plan’s service area
5-star Special Enrollment Period
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that has a star rating below 5 stars and you find a five-star rated plan, you can change (one time only) to the 5-star plan any time between December 8 and the following year on November 30.
Consult a Medicare agent before making this change to be sure you do not lose your Prescription drug coverage or MA coverage when enrolling in a 5-star plan.
Special Enrollment Periods if you get “Extra Help”
People who qualify for “Extra Help” paying for prescription drug coverage can join, drop, or switch Medicare prescription drug plans one time during each of these time periods:
- January – March
- April – June
- July – September
The fourth annual quarter is not included, but all Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their plans during the AEP from October 15 to December 7.