Louisiana

What Is Louisiana Medicaid Long-Term Care?

Louisiana Medicaid is a joint federal and state healthcare program that supports low-income residents, including seniors. While it serves various populations, this guide focuses on long-term care assistance for Louisiana seniors aged 65 and older. Beyond nursing home care, Medicaid can cover services that allow elderly individuals to remain in their homes, assisted living communities, or adult foster care homes.

What Are the Types of Medicaid Long-Term Care Programs in Louisiana?

1) Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid

This entitlement program ensures that all eligible individuals receive services, specifically within licensed nursing facilities.

2) Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

These are limited-enrollment programs aimed at helping seniors avoid nursing home placement by offering care in less restrictive settings. There may be waitlists.

3) Regular Medicaid / Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD)

This program offers long-term care services, such as help with personal care or adult day care, to qualifying individuals.

Louisiana’s Medicaid is administered by the Louisiana Department of Health and delivered through a managed care system known as Healthy Louisiana, previously Bayou Health.

What Are the 2025 Income and Asset Limits for Long-Term Care Medicaid?

Financial eligibility depends on marital status, the Medicaid program, and annual updates. Below are 2025 guidelines for seniors.

Eligibility for a Single Applicant in a Nursing Home

• Income: Under $2,901/month
• Assets: Under $2,000
• Medical Need: Must require a Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC)

2025 Louisiana Medicaid Long-Term Care Financial Eligibility Chart

Note: Applicants may be required to pay most of their income toward care. Certain exemptions apply, such as a $45 monthly personal needs allowance.

How Does Louisiana Medicaid Count Income?

What Is Considered Countable Income?

Most income sources, including wages, Social Security, pensions, alimony, IRA withdrawals, and investment returns, count toward eligibility. Exemptions include Holocaust restitution and the VA Aid & Attendance benefit.

How Is Income Evaluated for Married Couples?

If only one spouse applies, only the applicant’s income is counted. The non-applicant may receive a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA) of up to $3,948/month if their income falls below that amount.

For Regular Medicaid, income from both spouses is evaluated, and no MMNA applies.

What Assets Count Toward Medicaid Eligibility?

What Are Countable vs. Non-Countable Assets?

Countable assets include savings, stocks, bonds, retirement accounts, and non-primary real estate. Exempt assets include personal belongings, one vehicle, household furnishings, irrevocable burial funds, and a primary home under certain conditions.

What Are the Rules for Married Couples?

All assets are considered jointly owned, but the non-applicant spouse may retain up to $157,920 of the couple’s combined assets under the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA).

What Is the 60-Month Look-Back Period?

Louisiana reviews financial records from the 60 months before a long-term care application to ensure no assets were gifted or sold below market value. Violations can lead to a Medicaid ineligibility penalty.

Is the Home Always Protected Under Medicaid?

To remain exempt, the applicant or their spouse must live in the home or the applicant must express Intent to Return. In 2025, the home equity limit is $730,000. This limit does not apply to Regular Medicaid.

However, Louisiana’s Estate Recovery Program may seek repayment from the estate after the Medicaid recipient’s death, which could include the home.

What Are the Medical Requirements for Long-Term Care Medicaid?

Applicants for Nursing Home Medicaid and Waivers must require a Nursing Facility Level of Care. For Regular Medicaid, functional limitations in daily living activities are sufficient, even without NFLOC.

Can Seniors Still Qualify If They Are Over the Limits?

1) What is the Medically Needy or Spend-Down Pathway?

Those with income exceeding limits may still qualify by spending excess income on medical expenses. The monthly eligibility threshold (MNIES) in 2025 is:

• Urban Individual: $100
• Urban Couple: $192
• Rural Individual: $92
• Rural Couple: $167

The spend-down is calculated over a 3-month period.

2) What About the Asset Spend-Down?

Applicants can reduce countable assets by purchasing exempt items, paying off debt, or prepaying for funeral expenses. Documentation should be kept to show compliance with the look-back rule.

3) How Can Medicaid Planning Help?

Working with a Medicaid planner can help applicants structure finances to qualify while protecting their home and savings. This is especially helpful for those slightly over income or asset limits.

What Medicaid Programs Support In-Home and Community-Based Care?

• Adult Day Care Waiver (ADHC) – Offers daytime support for seniors with medical needs
• LT-PCS – Provides help with ADLs and IADLs like grooming, cooking, and mobility
• Community Choices Waiver (CCW) – Aims to keep seniors in community settings
• PACE – Integrates Medicare and Medicaid into one plan offering complete care
• Money Follows the Person (My Place LA) – Assists Medicaid-eligible individuals in transitioning from facilities to community living

How Can Someone Apply for Louisiana Medicaid?

Applications can be submitted in the following ways:

• Online: LaCHIP Self-Service Portal
• Phone: Call 1-888-342-6207
• In-person: Visit a local Medicaid Application Center (check ahead for walk-in policies)

Area Agencies on Aging are also available to assist with the process. Those uncertain about eligibility are encouraged to consult with a Medicaid planner to avoid delays or disqualification.