Skip to main content
The Mom Site

Louisiana Medicaid for pregnant women

Who qualifies for Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana), the income limit for your household size, what it covers and how to apply with Louisiana Department of Health.

Limits as of January 2026 · Checked October 2026 · 27 sources

Apply for Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana)

Louisiana Department of Health runs it. We're not the state agency, so you apply with them, online or with help from your clinic or hospital.

Start your application

Opens ldh.la.gov

Check your income against the limit

Short answer

In Louisiana, you qualify for pregnancy Medicaid or CHIP if your household earns up to 214% of the poverty level: about $46,310 a year for a household of two (you and the baby). Coverage lasts 12 months after birth.

Louisiana pregnancy Medicaid income limits for 2026

Find your household size and compare your household's income with the limit. Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers pregnancy up to 214% of the federal poverty level.

Medicaid itself goes to 138%. Between 138% and 214%, coverage is through CHIP's From Conception to End of Pregnancy (unborn-child) option.

Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) income limits2026 guidelines, 48 states and DC
HouseholdMedicaid to 138%Unborn-child to 214%
2you + 1 baby$29,863$2,489/mo$46,310$3,859/mo
3$37,702$3,142/mo$58,465$4,872/mo
4$45,540$3,795/mo$70,620$5,885/mo
5$53,378$4,448/mo$82,775$6,898/mo
6$61,217$5,101/mo$94,930$7,911/mo
7$69,055$5,755/mo$107,086$8,924/mo
8$76,894$6,408/mo$119,241$9,937/mo

Annual and monthly household income. See the 2026 poverty guidelines

Your baby counts

For Medicaid, a pregnant woman's family size counts her plus the number of children she is expected to deliver (42 CFR 435.603(b)). A household of three in Louisiana, two adults expecting one baby, can earn up to $58,465 a year ($27,320 × 214%).

Limits are percents of the poverty level from KFF and Georgetown CCF (January 2026) and include the standard 5-point income disregard. Louisiana rounds and updates on its own schedule, so treat the dollars as approximate.

Sources: KFF State Health Facts; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register); eCFR (National Archives). Data as of October 2026.

How to apply in Louisiana

  1. Count your household

    Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting, and anyone else the state counts with you. Find your size in the table above.

  2. Apply with Louisiana Department of Health

    Apply on the state's site (ldh.la.gov). Go to the Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) application

  3. Ask the hospital about temporary coverage

    Hospitals in every state may grant presumptive eligibility, which covers you while your full application is processed.

  4. Keep your coverage after birth

    Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers you for 12 months after the pregnancy ends.

Get covered today

Hospitals only

Presumptive eligibility lets a qualified clinic or hospital enroll a pregnant person in temporary Medicaid right away, while the full application is processed.

Louisiana doesn't use it for its pregnancy group, but hospitals in every state may make these determinations.

Source: KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Data as of January 2025.

12 months

of Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) coverage after birth, since April 1, 2022

KFF postpartum tracker, July 2026

What Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers for pregnancy

Coverage after birth, plus the three extras people ask about most, each from our state-by-state trackers.

After birth

12 months
Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) keeps covering you for 12 months after the pregnancy ends, a rule in place since April 1, 2022.
Postpartum coverage in every state

Doula care

Yes
In Louisiana, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $1,016.52 per pregnancy for 5 prenatal and 3 postpartum visits, plus support during labor and delivery.We list 165 doulas in Louisiana.
Doulas in LouisianaDoula coverage in every state

Lactation support

Limited
In Louisiana, Medicaid health plans can choose to cover up to six outpatient lactation visits, and lactation consultants can enroll with their own NPI.
Lactation consultants in LouisianaLactation coverage in every state

Breast pump

Yes
In Louisiana, Medicaid covers a double electric breast pump from 32 weeks of pregnancy with a prescription and no prior authorization.
Breast pump rules in Louisiana and every state

What's changing

Rules that affect pregnancy coverage in Louisiana now and in 2027.

Sources: U.S. Government Publishing Office; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families

More for families in Louisiana

All 50 states and DC

Questions about pregnancy Medicaid in Louisiana

What is the income limit for pregnancy Medicaid in Louisiana?

Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 214% of the federal poverty level. At the 2026 guidelines that's about $46,310 a year for a household of two, $58,465 for three and $70,620 for four. Medicaid itself goes to 138% ($29,863 for two). Between 138% and 214%, coverage is through CHIP's From Conception to End of Pregnancy (unborn-child) option. Limits are KFF's figures as of January 2026.

Does my unborn baby count in my household size?

Yes. For Medicaid, a pregnant woman's family size counts her plus the number of children she is expected to deliver (42 CFR 435.603(b)). A single pregnant woman expecting one baby is a household of two; expecting twins, a household of three.

How long does Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) cover you after birth?

12 months after the pregnancy ends, a rule in place since April 1, 2022.

Can I get covered the same day in Louisiana?

Louisiana doesn't use presumptive eligibility for its pregnancy group, but hospitals in every state may make presumptive eligibility determinations, so ask the hospital.

How do I apply for pregnancy Medicaid in Louisiana?

Apply with Louisiana Department of Health at ldh.la.gov. Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting as your household, and compare your income with the limit for that size. We're not the state agency and can't take applications.

Does Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) pay for a doula?

In Louisiana, Medicaid covers doula care: up to $1,016.52 per pregnancy for 5 prenatal and 3 postpartum visits, plus support during labor and delivery.

Do pregnant women have to meet the new Medicaid work requirements?

Public Law 119-21 (2025) requires states to apply Medicaid work (community engagement) requirements to expansion adults ages 19-64 starting no later than January 1, 2027 (states may start earlier; HHS may grant good-faith exemptions that end by December 31, 2028). People who are pregnant or entitled to postpartum coverage are exempt, as are parents and caretakers of a dependent child 13 or younger.

We're not Louisiana Department of Health and can't tell you whether you qualify. Apply at ldh.la.gov for a decision. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it against the state's own notice.

Sources

  1. 1.Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Limits for Pregnant Women as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level (as of January 2026) KFF State Health Facts. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 2.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Prepare for Major Medicaid Policy Changes (Table 2, January 2026) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 3.Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker (as of July 15, 2026) KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 4.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Resume Routine Operations Following the Unwinding (Table 7: Presumptive Eligibility, January 2025) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 5.Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana): how to apply Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 6.CMS approval of Louisiana State Plan Amendment LA-22-0009 (12-month postpartum coverage), effective 2022-04-01 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 7.Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797, Jan. 15, 2026) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 8.42 CFR 435.603(b), definition of family size eCFR (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 27 sources
  1. 9.Public Law 119-21, sec. 71119: Requirement for States to Establish Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements (adds SSA sec. 1902(xx)) U.S. Government Publishing Office. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 10.SHO #26-001: Implementation of Section 71109 "Alien Medicaid Eligibility" (April 8, 2026) Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 11.42 CFR 447.56(a)(2)(ii), exemptions from Medicaid cost sharing: pregnancy-related services eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations.
  4. 12.Doula Medicaid Project: state-by-state chart of doula Medicaid efforts (last updated Sep. 2026) National Health Law Program (NHeLP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 13.Louisiana SPA LA-25-0024: Doula Services (CMS approval package) Louisiana Department of Health / CMS. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 14.Doula Provider Enrollment Packet Now Available (Dec 19, 2025) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 15.Louisiana Medicaid Professional Services Fee Schedule (effective 7/1/2026) Louisiana Medicaid (lamedicaid.com). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 16.Provider Type Specific Packet/Checklist: Doula (Individual) PT-DL Louisiana Medicaid (lamedicaid.com). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 17.Louisiana Doula Registry Board Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 18.LA Doula Services Updates (MCO bulletin on behalf of LDH) UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 19.State Trends in Medicaid Coverage of Doula Services (published April 1, 2026; data as of March 2026) National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 20.MCO Manual: Outpatient Lactation Support (LDH-17, In Lieu of Service) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 21.Medicaid Managed Care Organization Contract, Attachment C: In Lieu of Services (Effective 1/1/2026) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  14. 22.AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana In Lieu Of Policy ILO.07: Outpatient Lactation Support AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana (posted by Louisiana Department of Health). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 23.Aetna Better Health of Louisiana Policy: In Lieu of Services Aetna Better Health of Louisiana (posted by Louisiana Department of Health). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  16. 24.Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana Medicaid Medical Coverage Policy LA.CLI.071.003: Outpatient Lactation Support Provider, In Lieu of Services (ILOS) (draft, review date 08/04/2026) Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana (posted by Louisiana Department of Health). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  17. 25.Medicaid Coverage of Pregnancy-Related Services: Findings from a 2021 State Survey KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  18. 26.Louisiana Medicaid Program Provider Manual, Chapter 18: Durable Medical Equipment (Section 18.2.10 Breast Milk and Supplies) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  19. 27.Informational Bulletin 24-7: LDH Breast Pump Coverage Changes Effective March 1, 2024 (Revised October 29, 2024) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.