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Having a baby in Louisiana

Medicaid and WIC income limits, paid leave, doula and lactation coverage, breast pumps and childcare prices in Louisiana, with the agency and link to apply for each.

Checked October 2026 · 36 sources

Short answer

Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers pregnancy for incomes up to 214% of the poverty level, about $46,310 a year for you and one baby, and for 12 months after birth. WIC takes households of two earning up to $40,034. Louisiana has no state paid family leave program. Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) pays for a doula (up to about $1,017 per pregnancy). Full-time infant care at a center runs about $7,973 a year (2022 prices).

What you can get in Louisiana

The short answer for each benefit, with its source. Tap Details for income limits, how to apply and the fine print.

Yes

Can Medicaid cover your pregnancy in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level and CHIP up to 214% (about $46,310 a year for a household of two); Medicaid postpartum coverage lasts 12 months.

Source: KFF State Health Facts, income limits as of January 2026Details
Yes

Can you get WIC in Louisiana?

Yes, if your household's income is at or below $40,034 a year for two people (you and your baby). If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already qualify. You can start online.

Source: Louisiana Department of Health, October 2026Details
Voluntary

Does Louisiana have paid family leave?

Louisiana has no state paid family leave program. A 2026 law lets insurers sell paid family leave policies to employers, so you're covered only if your employer buys one.

Source: Louisiana State Legislature, October 2026Details
Yes

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.

Source: National Health Law Program (NHeLP), October 2026Details
Limited

Does Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) cover a lactation consultant?

In Louisiana, Medicaid health plans can choose to cover up to six outpatient lactation visits, and lactation consultants can enroll with their own NPI.

Source: Louisiana Department of Health, October 2026Details
Yes

Does Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) cover a breast pump?

In Louisiana, Medicaid covers a double electric breast pump from 32 weeks of pregnancy with a prescription and no prior authorization.

Source: Louisiana Department of Health, October 2026Details

Medicaid for pregnancy in Louisiana

Yes

214%

of the federal poverty level is the upper income limit

KFF, January 2026

12 mo

of Medicaid coverage after birth

KFF, July 2026

Program
Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana)
Agency
Louisiana Department of Health
Medicaid limit
138% of the poverty level
CHIP unborn-child option
Up to 214%
12-month postpartum coverage since
April 1, 2022
Presumptive eligibility
Not for the pregnancy group, but hospitals can still make presumptive determinations.

Above 138%, coverage comes only through CHIP's From Conception to End of Pregnancy option. It covers the pregnancy regardless of the parent's immigration status, but benefits and postpartum coverage can be narrower than full Medicaid.

Hospitals in every state may make presumptive eligibility determinations.

Apply for Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) Check your income
Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) income limit by household size214% of 2026 guidelines (48 states and DC)
HouseholdPer yearPer month
2you + 1 baby$46,310$3,859
3$58,465$4,872
4$70,620$5,885
5$82,775$6,898
6$94,930$7,911
7$107,086$8,924

Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting. Gross household income; Louisiana rounds and updates on its own schedule, so treat these as approximate. Compare every state

Sources: KFF State Health Facts; KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families; KFF; Louisiana Department of Health; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Data as of October 2026.

WIC in Louisiana

Yes

Louisiana WIC gives pregnant and new parents, babies and children under 5 healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. You qualify on income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, and you may already qualify if you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF.

Program
Louisiana WIC
Agency
Louisiana Department of Health
Phone
(800) 251-2229
Apply online
Start the online form
Notes
The online form is an interest form; your local clinic follows up.

  1. Start online or call

    Contact a WIC agency where you live to start, by phone or online. The agency schedules an in-person or virtual appointment to finish the application and nutrition check.

  2. Go to your appointment

    In person or virtual. Staff finish your application and do a free health and nutrition check.
Louisiana WIC WIC limits for every state
WIC income limits, 48 states and DCJuly 2026 to June 2027
HouseholdPer yearPer month
1$29,526$2,461
2$40,034$3,337
3$50,542$4,212
4$61,050$5,088
5$71,558$5,964
6$82,066$6,839

Gross household income. Count each unborn baby as a household member.

Sources: Louisiana Department of Health; USDA Food and Nutrition Administration; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Data as of October 2026.

Doula coverage in Louisiana

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.

Covered since
January 1, 2026
Most Medicaid pays per pregnancy
$1,017
Payment
$69.69 per prenatal or postpartum visit (S9445; up to 5 prenatal + 3 postpartum, each up to 90 minutes) and $459 flat for attending labor and delivery (99199, vaginal or cesarean); up to $1,016.52 total. Doulas can also bill up to 3 birthing, 3 lactation and 3 parenting classes at $40.80 each (S9442/S9443/S9444), which would add $367.20 (max $1,383.72 with classes). Rates effective 1/1/2026 on the Louisiana Medicaid professional services fee schedule (current edition effective 7/1/2026).
Prenatal visits
5
Labor and delivery support
Yes
Postpartum visits
3
Doula certification required
Approved registration with the Louisiana Doula Registry Board, plus enrollment as a Louisiana Medicaid provider (individual or doula group)
Notes
New benefit. Managed care (Healthy Louisiana) coverage started 1/1/2026; fee-for-service started 1/20/2026, the effective date of approved SPA LA-25-0024 (approved 2/2/2026). The $1,383.72 total sometimes quoted includes the optional birthing, lactation and parenting classes; $1,016.52 is the standard visits and labor package. The fee schedule also lists 99404 'pre/postnatal nurse advocacy visit' at $35.41 for the doula provider type; the SPA does not describe it, so it is excluded from the total. The SPA requires a recommendation from a physician or other licensed practitioner; there's no statewide standing recommendation, according to the National Health Law Program. Visit limits can be exceeded when medically necessary. Managed care plans may pay differently; confirm with the member's plan. Louisiana has no member page about doulas; LDH's notice and the registry page are aimed at doulas.

The dollar figure is what Medicaid pays the doula, not what you pay. Medicaid can't charge cost sharing for pregnancy-related services, so covered doula care costs you nothing. You usually need a recommendation from a doctor, midwife or other licensed provider, and a doula in your health plan's network. Checked October 2026; rates often change January 1 and July 1, so confirm with Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana).

For doulas: enroll with Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana)

165

doulas listed in Louisiana

CMS NPPES and state doula lists

Doulas in LouisianaDoula coverage in every state

Sources: National Health Law Program (NHeLP); Louisiana Department of Health / CMS; Louisiana Department of Health; Louisiana Medicaid (lamedicaid.com); Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health. Data as of October 2026.

Lactation support in Louisiana

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.

Who can bill
IBCLC; advanced lactation consultant; advanced nurse lactation consultant; certified lactation consultant; certified breastfeeding specialist; certified lactation educator; doula
Where
outpatient; clinic; home; telehealth
Visit limits
Up to six treatment sessions without prior authorization during pregnancy or while less than 24 months postpartum; additional sessions with MCO authorization
IBCLCs can enroll on their own
Yes
Since
January 1, 2024
Notes
Louisiana now pays for outpatient lactation support (S9445-33 individual visits, S9443 classes), a change since the 2021 KFF survey. It is an optional managed care In Lieu of Service, not a State Plan or fee-for-service benefit: the LDH contract lets each MCO cover it at its option. AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Aetna Better Health of Louisiana and Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana have posted lactation ILOS policies; current documents for Healthy Blue, Louisiana Healthcare Connections and UnitedHealthcare were not found. Lactation support providers enroll with their own NPI under an LDH lactation support provider type.

Louisiana Medicaid member information

99

lactation consultants listed in Louisiana

CMS NPPES

Lactation consultants in LouisianaLactation coverage in every state

Sources: Louisiana Department of Health; AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana (posted by Louisiana Department of Health); Aetna Better Health of Louisiana (posted by Louisiana Department of Health); Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana (posted by Louisiana Department of Health); KFF. Data as of October 2026.

Breast pumps through Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana)

Yes

In Louisiana, Medicaid covers a double electric breast pump from 32 weeks of pregnancy with a prescription and no prior authorization.

Pump types
personal electric
Prior authorization
Not required
Prescription
Required
When you can get one
May be obtained from 32 weeks gestational age; Medicaid must not have bought a pump for the same delivery in the past three years
Notes
Louisiana Medicaid covers a personal use double electric breast pump without prior authorization, subject to post-payment review, with a physician prescription and a completed Electric Breast Pump Request Form. Manual, single and hospital-grade pumps are not covered. Since March 1, 2024 the pump can be dispensed at 32 weeks gestation; replacement supplies need prior authorization.

Louisiana Medicaid member information

Sources: Louisiana Department of Health; KFF. Data as of October 2026.

Childcare costs in Louisiana

$7,973

a year ($153 a week), the median for infant care at a center

DOL state estimate, 2022

$7,107

a year ($137 a week) in a family childcare home

DOL state estimate, 2022

Full-time provider prices before any subsidy, in 2022 dollars. The national median for center infant care was $12,647 a year. 64 county infant center prices were not surveyed in 2022; DOL estimated them from the price trend between other survey years.

Center infant care, lowest and highest county2022 prices
CountyPer year
LaSalle Parishhighest$8,320
East Feliciana Parishlowest$6,240

64 of 64 counties have a center infant price.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Data as of October 2026.

Questions about having a baby 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 (138% for Medicaid itself; CHIP covers the rest). At the 2026 poverty guidelines that's about $46,310 a year for a household of two, $58,465 for three and $70,620 for four. Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting.

How long does Medicaid cover you after birth in Louisiana?

Louisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana) covers you for 12 months after the pregnancy ends, a rule in place since April 2022.

What is the WIC income limit in Louisiana?

From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, Louisiana WIC uses USDA's limits: $40,034 a year for a household of two, $50,542 for three and $61,050 for four. If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already meet the income rule. Call 1-800-251-2229 to apply.

Does Louisiana have paid family leave?

Louisiana has no state paid family leave program. A 2026 law lets insurers sell paid family leave policies to employers, so you're covered only if your employer buys one.

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.

How much does infant daycare cost in Louisiana?

The median price for full-time infant care at a center in Louisiana was $153 a week, about $7,973 a year, in 2022 (U.S. Department of Labor). Prices have risen since, so treat it as a floor and look up your county.

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.Louisiana WIC (state WIC page) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 9.Louisiana WIC: state agency contact USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 10.Louisiana WIC: online application or interest form Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 11.WIC: 2026/2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 23050, Apr. 29, 2026) USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 12.HB591 (2026 Regular Session): Creates the Paid Family Leave Insurance Act; history Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 13.Act No. 817 (HB 591), 2026 Regular Session Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  14. 14.Résumé Digest, Act 817 (HB 591), 2026 Regular Session Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 15.La. R.S. 23:342, Unlawful practice by employers prohibited; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition; benefits and leaves of absence Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 36 sources
  1. 16.La. R.S. 23:341, Application Louisiana State Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 17.Doula Medicaid Project: state-by-state chart of doula Medicaid efforts (last updated Sep. 2026) National Health Law Program (NHeLP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 18.Louisiana SPA LA-25-0024: Doula Services (CMS approval package) Louisiana Department of Health / CMS. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 19.Doula Provider Enrollment Packet Now Available (Dec 19, 2025) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 20.Louisiana Medicaid Professional Services Fee Schedule (effective 7/1/2026) Louisiana Medicaid (lamedicaid.com). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 21.Provider Type Specific Packet/Checklist: Doula (Individual) PT-DL Louisiana Medicaid (lamedicaid.com). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 22.Louisiana Doula Registry Board Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 23.LA Doula Services Updates (MCO bulletin on behalf of LDH) UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Louisiana. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 24.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.
  10. 25.42 CFR 447.56(a)(2)(ii), exemptions from Medicaid cost sharing: pregnancy-related services eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations.
  11. 26.MCO Manual: Outpatient Lactation Support (LDH-17, In Lieu of Service) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 27.Medicaid Managed Care Organization Contract, Attachment C: In Lieu of Services (Effective 1/1/2026) Louisiana Department of Health. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 28.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.
  14. 29.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.
  15. 30.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.
  16. 31.Medicaid Coverage of Pregnancy-Related Services: Findings from a 2021 State Survey KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  17. 32.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.
  18. 33.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.
  19. 34.National Database of Childcare Prices: 2008-2022 (Data File) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  20. 35.National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report (September 2024) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  21. 36.National Database of Childcare Prices: State-Level Estimates and Affordability Rankings 2022 U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.

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