UnitedHealthcare Medicaid in Louisiana Ended: What Former Members Need to Know

If you had Unit­ed­Health­care Community Plan through Louisiana Medicaid, you might have recently received a new insurance card or noticed changes to your health plan.

As of April 1, 2026, Unit­ed­Health­care no longer participates in Louisiana's Medicaid program. This change does not affect your Medicaid eligibility or benefits. It only affects which Medicaid health plan manages your coverage

Can Patient Plus Help?

Absolutely. 

Patient Plus Urgent Care accepts Louisiana Medicaid plans and can check your current coverage when you visit. If you used to have Unit­ed­Health­care Medicaid and are not sure what plan you have now, our team can help you find your current insurance information.

We have convenient locations across Southern Louisiana and offer walk-in care every day of the week. Our goal is to make getting care as easy as possible.

What Happened?

The Louisiana Department of Health moved all Unit­ed­Health­care Medicaid members to one of the other Healthy Louisiana plans. Members could pick a new plan during a special enrollment period. If you did not choose, you were automatically given a new health plan.

What Are My Options?

Louisiana Medicaid members are now part of one of these Healthy Louisiana plans:

• Aetna Better Health of Louisiana
• AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
• Healthy Blue
• Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana
• Louisiana Healthcare Connections

These plans continue to provide Medicaid coverage across Louisiana.

Do I Still Have Medicaid?

Yes. 

Even though Unit­ed­Health­care is no longer a Medicaid health plan in Louisiana, eligible members continue to have Medicaid coverage. Your benefits did not end because of this change. You simply have a different Medicaid managed care plan.

What Should I Do Next?

If you were previously covered by Unit­ed­Health­care Medicaid:

1. Check your new insurance card
2. Confirm the name of your new Medicaid health plan
3. Bring your new insurance card when visiting a healthcare provider
4. Contact your health plan if you have questions about covered services or provider networks

If you're unsure which plan you have, many healthcare providers can verify your coverage.

The Bottom Line

Many patients have been confused by UnitedHealthcare's decision to leave Louisiana Medicaid, but the most important thing to remember is that your Medicaid coverage is still active.

If you are not sure about your new plan, bring your insurance card to your next visit. We will help check your coverage so you can focus on the care you need.

Sources

The information in this article was compiled from the following sources:

• Louisiana Department of Health - Changes to Medicaid Health Plans in 2026
• LA Illuminator - Louisiana Starts to Wind Down UnitedHealthcare's Medicaid Contract

This information is based on guidance published by the Louisiana Department of Health and Healthy Louisiana. Patients should refer to official state resources for the most current enrollment and plan information.