How to Find the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Louisiana

In Louisiana, 56% of Medicare beneficiaries have a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans are a private, bundled alternative to Original Medicare that often include additional benefits like routine vision, dental, and vision services.

With over half of enrollees signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan in Louisiana, it’s clear that beneficiaries are interested in this type of health insurance. However, it’s important to know all your options to make sure you can select the right plan for your health needs.

In this article, we’ll help you understand what goes into a Medicare Advantage plan, top plans in Louisiana, and how to find the best policy for you.

Key takeaways:

• The best Medicare Advantage plans cater to the needs of each beneficiary. You should look for a plan that provides coverage for services you need covered for your unique health situation. 

• Insurance providers that carry highly rated Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana include People’s Health, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

• Plan availability varies by location in Louisiana—be sure to compare plans available specifically in your area

Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare

By law, Medicare Advantage plans must provide the same coverage as Original Medicare. The difference is that Medicare Advantage is managed by private insurance companies. This allows Medicare Advantage insurance providers to set their own out-of-pocket costs while Original Medicare has standardized out-of-pocket costs.Medicare Advantage plans also differ from Original Medicare in the following ways: 

• Prior authorization requirements

• Provider networks

• Out-of-pocket maximums

• Additional benefits like transportation, over-the-counter (OTC) credits, and routine dental, hearing, and vision services

• Option to incorporate prescription drug plans

Quick facts about Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana

• 56% of Medicare beneficiaries have a Medicare Advantage plan in Louisiana.

• There are between 29 to 55 Medicare Advantage plan options in Louisiana depending on the parish.

• Insurance providers in Louisiana with highly rated plans include People’s Health, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Highly rated Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana 

Remember that not every Medicare Advantage plan is available in every location in Louisiana. The plans you can enroll in depend on where you live specifically. 

You can compare the quality of plans in your area with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star rating system. Every year, the CMS judges the performance and quality of Medicare Advantage plans by awarding them 1-5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest rating.

You can use Medicare’s plan finder tool to search plans in your area by zip code and filter by star rating. 

Insurance carriers that provide 5-star plans

• People’s Health 

Insurance carriers that provide 4.5-star and 4-star plans

• Humana

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Ochsner Health Plan

• Aetna

Finding the best Medicare Advantage plan in Louisiana 

When finding the best Medicare Advantage plan in Louisiana, you’ll want to focus on the health coverage that you need. Keep the 3 P’s in mind: prescriptions, providers, and priorities. 

Priorities: Ask yourself what your health priorities are. Make a note of any health conditions, concerns, preventive measures, and extra benefits that are important to you. If you know what you need coverage for and how often you may need healthcare services, you’ll have a better idea of what plans are right for you.

Providers: Medicare Advantage plans often operate under network providers, which means that your healthcare provider or facility may need to be in-network for coverage. Make sure you know what the healthcare landscape looks like in your area so you choose a plan with your preferred physicians and specialists.

Prescriptions: Along with your priorities and providers, pay attention to all the medications you take. If you take multiple prescriptions, it can be helpful to list them. That way, you can find a Medicare Advantage plan that incorporates a formulary that provides the coverage you need more easily. 

A licensed Medicare Advisor at Chapter can make the process simpler. Understand Medicare, compare plans, and enroll in the best healthcare plan for you. Call us at 855-900-2427 or schedule a time to chat.