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Continuity of Care provided by Access Health Louisiana
United Healthcare (UHC) will continue to provide coverage for 330,000 Medicaid enrollees in Louisiana through March 31, 2026. However, the state will need to reassign those patients to one of the five other Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) with insurance coverage taking effect April 1st. The move comes after state leaders negotiated a 90-day extension and supplemental contract with UHC to avoid having to reassign Medicaid patients before the end of 2025. UHC leadership decided to pull out of Louisiana’s Medicaid program after the MCO was accused of violating its state contract by withholding documents from state officials regarding prescription drug pricing. State Attorney General Liz Murrill claims UHC and its pharmacy benefits manager, Optum Rx, overcharged for prescription medications. UHC claims it is operating in compliance with state law, as well as its Medicaid contract.
“Thank you to the legislators and our managed care plans for working together to put patients first. This extension gives us more time to take an even more thoughtful approach to transitioning members to new plans,” said LDH Secretary Bruce Greenstein. “Continuity of care is our highest priority, so members can continue accessing their services without disruption.” UHC patients can continue to come to any Access Health Louisiana community health center or school-based health center during this transition period and also take advantage of prescription assistance as well. There will be no lapse in patients receiving services with Access Health Louisiana.
A special enrollment period runs January 15-February 15, 2026. During this time, UHC Medicaid patients may enroll in another health plan. Patients can select a new plan by phone, through the Medicaid self-service portal, or the Healthy Louisiana app. Patients who do not select a new plan will be automatically re-assigned. When patients receive their new health plan insurance card in the mail, it is important for them to bring their new card to any upcoming appointments at Access Health Louisiana. If patients do not receive a new insurance card in the mail, contact the Louisiana Department of Health’s Medicaid office through My Medicaid or by calling 1-855-229-6848.
UHC provides insurance coverage to a quarter of Louisiana’s 1.4 million Medicaid patients. Other MCOs in the state include: Aetna Better Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, Humana Healthy Horizons, and Louisiana Healthcare Connections. To compare benefits offered by each of the five remaining MCOs, click here.
These changes do not affect Medicaid members who are not enrolled with United Healthcare.
LDH will continue to share updates as additional information becomes available.
Source: Louisiana Department of Health & https://lailluminator.com/2025/12/19/unitedhealthcare-louisiana/
With UHC pulling out of Louisiana in the first quarter of 2026, UHC patients should consider a few key points to ensure they receive critical information regarding their new insurance coverage and assignments.
Action Items for UHC Patients:
- Update your contact information with the Louisiana Department of Health by clicking here. There are four options for updating your mailing address and phone number – completing an online form, requesting a text message with a digital link to submit the information, sending an email, or logging into My Medicaid.
- If you have questions about possible changes to your insurance plan, contact Medicaid Customer Service at 1-888-342-6207 Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm.
- Monitor your mail for notifications from United Healthcare Community plan.
Access Health Louisiana UHC Patients:
- Schedule and attend all upcoming Access Health Louisiana appointments for medical, behavioral health, and specialty services such as vision care, as usual by dialing 1-866-530-6111.
- Continue to send prescription medication requests and refill orders through the Access Health Louisiana Pharmacy in Luling or Kenner.
Access Health Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Health will continue to update patients on this development. To read more about LDH’s decision regarding the United Healthcare contract, click here.
Information for All Louisiana Medicaid Patients
Many insurance companies send out new and updated insurance cards for members each year. If you receive a new card, be sure to bring it to your next medical or behavioral health appointment in 2026. Parents of School-Based Health Center patients, please call your child’s on campus clinic directly to provide their updated insurance information when school resumes after the new year.
Each of Louisiana’s Managed Care Organizations offer patients different benefits from gift cards for completing annual wellness exams, to free car seats for new moms, and more.* Click here compare member benefits. *Please note: benefits vary by plan and are subject to change.
Primary Care Physician Assignments:
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Online: Log into your member account on your plan’s secure member portal and select a new PCP.
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By Phone: Call your MCO’s Member Services number. This number is typically on the back of your member ID card.
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By Form: Some plans allow you to complete and submit a PCP Change Request form via fax or mail. Your Access Health Louisiana community health center can assist and submit this form on your behalf.
For more information on how to change your Primary Care Provider or Primary Dental Provider, click here.
Stay in the Know:
For the latest news or updates to your Medicaid coverage in Louisiana, you have several options for communications. You can get an email, text message, or both when you have a letter from Medicaid to view online. There are three ways to sign up for alerts:
• Phone: Call Healthy Louisiana at 1-855-229-6848 (TTY: 1-855-526-3346).
• Online: Log in to your account and go to the Enrollment and Contact Information page.
• Mobile app: Search for Healthy Louisiana on Google Play or the App Store.
If you have more than one person on your case, only one person needs to sign up for emails, text messages, or both. You can only use one email address and cell phone number for your case. The email address and/or cell phone number you use will get a message when you have a letter in your online account.
Once you sign up, you will not get enrollment letters by mail if they are online in your Healthy Louisiana account. You will still get other important letters from Medicaid by mail. You will get the letters online faster than letters by mail. You can view letters in your account as soon as they are ready. Getting letters online is easy. The letters in your account will never expire, so you do not have to keep copies. But you can download them at any time. You can view them in your account at any time. You may opt out of (stop) getting emails, texts, or both at any time. If you do, you will get all letters by mail again.
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