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Louisiana Work Requirements
Coming January 1, 2027
In July 2025, Congress passed legislation that changes Medicaid rules nationwide. Beginning January 1, 2027, states must require certain Medicaid members to meet work or community engagement requirements. For some Louisiana Medicaid members, these changes may affect their eligibility or require additional documentation to maintain their Medicaid benefits.
What is changing?
Mandatory work requirements: Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who do not have a disability, qualified medical condition, or young children will need to work, go to school, or volunteer for community service – or a combination of these activities – for an average of 80 hours each month to qualify for or keep their Medicaid coverage beginning in 2027.
Who will be affected?
The new requirements apply to adults without disabilities participating in Medicaid. This is limited to Louisiana’s members with coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion population. This covers adults ages 19 to 64 who are U.S. citizens or meet certain immigration requirements. In Louisiana, this is anticipated to affect 297,441 members, of whom 86,564 have LDH-verified earned income to meet these requirements. LDH anticipates that the remaining 210,877 will include a significant subset with a condition that qualifies as medical frailty, also exempting them from meeting work requirements.
Is anyone exempt from these changes?
Louisiana Medicaid provides coverage for some 1.5 million Louisiana residents. The majority of those Medicaid members will not be impacted by these changes through one of the following exemptions:
- Foster care youth under the age of 26,
- Indian Health Service members,
- Caregivers of a dependent child 13 years of age and under or a disabled individual,
- Disabled veterans,
- Medically frail individuals,
- Individuals already meeting work requirements under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
- Individuals participating in a qualifying substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program,
- Incarcerated or have left incarceration within the prior three months,
- Pregnant and postpartum women.
When will these changes start?
New work and community engagement requirements begin January 1, 2027.
What can members do now?
Medicaid will notify all members several months before the effective date of the change to allow them time to prepare. This is a sample of the letter members may expect to receive in the mail. Medicaid estimates half of the impacted population will have their eligibility redetermined without having to complete paperwork or manually submit proof of eligibility. This is possible by using existing, reliable data sources such as employment records and social security data.
For members whose eligibility cannot be redetermined using data sources, a manual process is required. Medicaid will send letters to these members when they need to take action or provide information. Members should be sure to keep their contact information up to date with Louisiana Medicaid so they do not miss these important updates.
Members can update their address, phone number, and email address:
Online at mymedicaid.la.gov
By email at mymedicaid@la.gov
By calling their health plan (phone numbers are on their insurance card)
By texting the word “Info” to 72147
In person at one of the Medicaid regional offices (ldh.la.gov/director/category/158)
By calling Louisiana Medicaid toll-free at 1-888-341-6207.
How is Louisiana Medicaid preparing for these changes?
Louisiana is actively planning to best support Medicaid members by creating a work requirement program that has minimal member burden. We are focused on ensuring clear and consistent communication regarding timelines and impacts, both directly to members and to the public at large. We want everyone eligible and in need of Medicaid coverage to remain enrolled.
For adults who are not exempt from work requirements, Louisiana is taking steps to help them comply. By collaborating with Louisiana Works, Medicaid members subject to work requirements who need to take action will receive referrals to resources in their area for career support, education and skills training, and connections for employment. Click on your region to learn more:
Region 1 New Orleans area
Region 2 Baton Rouge area
Region 6 Alexandria
Source: Louisiana Department of Health – Updated January 2026
