Well, if you are entering the insurance market, you need to make your decision about your provider very carefully because some big changes are about to happen. The Louisiana Department of Insurance says UnitedHealthcare will not be able to serve some people in our state, and WDSU JONAH GILMORE is learning more about who this will affect and why this is happening. Jonah. Yes, open enrollment starts tomorrow and many patients will be forced to find a different provider. Now, the Louisiana insurance commissioner says UnitedHealthcare will not offer individual coverage in the marketplace this year in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes. Now, as you can imagine, this news will have many people considering other options when it comes to health insurance. Families currently enrolled in individual UnitedHealthcare plans in the four parishes have until Dec. 15 to choose a plan with another carrier. The state insurance commissioner said his office will continue to review and take necessary actions to protect consumers as the move comes after UHC and LCMC were unable to reach a contract agreement. A family medicine doctor explains how we got here. Shockingly they didn't reach a deal. These things often happen between insurance companies and hospital systems or doctor's offices as the cost of care increases. So you have to renegotiate your insurance rates. So that's the standard, but it's not the standard for such a large insurance company to not be able to get agreements with large insurance companies, large hospital systems. Now, LCMC said in a statement that this affects commercial products, including employer-sponsored plans and plans purchased through the ACA marketplace. Patients with Medicare Advantage or Medicaid through UNITEDHEALTHCARE are not affected. Live reporting from New Orleans,
UnitedHealthcare will no longer be available on health insurance marketplaces in four Louisiana parishes
Updated: October 31, 2025 at 4:26 pm CDT
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Louisiana's insurance commissioner is warning residents that major insurance plans will not be available through open enrollment in four parishes next year. LDI said this would only affect individuals and households shopping in individual markets. Open enrollment for Louisiana health insurance will begin on November 1. This allows residents to change their coverage through the health insurance marketplace. Those who signed up before Dec. 15 will get coverage starting on Jan. 1. Those who waited until the Jan. 15 deadline will get coverage starting on Feb. 1. However, UnitedHealthcare will not offer coverage through the marketplace this year for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines or St. Charles parishes, according to the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner. The Louisiana Department of Insurance urges residents with these health plans to enroll in another plan that offers similar coverage by Dec. 15. While UnitedHealthcare will offer coverage in 60 other Louisiana parishes, the company will disappear from the health insurance marketplace until the next HealthCare.gov system update, expected around the week of November. That would allow those four parishes to be removed as an option for residents to sign up for individual plans. Health insurance companies offering 2026 individual market plans in Louisiana include: Ambetter Health of Louisiana, Amerihealth Caritas of Louisiana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, CHRISTUS Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. “As the LCMC hospital system disappears from UnitedHealthcare's individual market network, UnitedHealthcare will initially not be available statewide until Healthcare.gov is updated to remove Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Charles from its coverage,” Commissioner Tim Temple said in a released statement. “My office will continue to review and take necessary actions to protect consumers.” The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers the following tips about open enrollment: Review your options. Plans and premiums change every year. This year includes significant federal changes that result in premium increases and changes to plan offerings. It's important to review the options available in your area and make sure your plan choice includes your doctor and is appropriate for your health needs. Meet deadlines. If you enroll before December 15, your coverage will begin on January 1, 2026. If you apply after December 15 but before the final deadline of January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1, 2026. If you don't elect coverage by January 15, you won't be able to get an Individual Market plan unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a qualifying life change. Contact an agent. A licensed health insurance agent can help you understand your options, answer questions you may have, and determine whether you qualify for a premium tax credit.
new orleans —
Louisiana's insurance commissioner is warning residents that major insurance plans will not be available through open enrollment in four parishes next year.
LDI said this would only affect individuals and households shopping in individual markets.
Open enrollment for Louisiana health insurance will begin on November 1. This allows residents to change their coverage through the health insurance marketplace.
Those who signed up before Dec. 15 will be covered starting Jan. 1. Those who waited until the January 15th deadline will be covered starting February 1st.
However, UnitedHealthcare will not offer coverage through the marketplace this year for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines or St. Charles parishes, according to the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance urges residents with these health plans to enroll in another plan that offers similar coverage by Dec. 15.
While UnitedHealthcare will offer coverage in 60 other Louisiana parishes, the company will disappear from the health insurance marketplace until the next HealthCare.gov system update, expected in about a week in November. That would allow those four parishes to be removed as an option for residents to sign up for individual plans.
Health insurance companies offering 2026 individual market plans in Louisiana include: Ambetter Health of Louisiana, Amerihealth Caritas of Louisiana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, CHRISTUS Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.
“As the LCMC hospital system disappears from UnitedHealthcare's individual market network, UnitedHealthcare will initially not be available statewide until Healthcare.gov is updated to remove Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Charles from its coverage,” Commissioner Tim Temple said in a released statement. “My office will continue to review and take necessary actions to protect consumers.”
The Louisiana Department of Insurance offers the following tips about open enrollment:
- Check your options. Plans and premiums change every year. This year includes significant federal changes that result in premium increases and changes to plan offerings. It's important to review the options available in your area and make sure your plan choice includes your doctor and is appropriate for your health needs.
- Meet deadlines. If you enroll before December 15, your coverage will begin on January 1, 2026. If you apply after December 15 but before the final deadline of January 15, your coverage will begin on February 1, 2026. If you don't elect coverage by January 15, you won't be able to get an Individual Market plan unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a qualifying life change.
- Contact an agent. A licensed health insurance agent can help you understand your options, answer questions you may have, and determine whether you qualify for a premium tax credit.