Choosing a Louisiana Medicaid Plan for Pregnancy and Kids
Choosing a Medicaid plan during pregnancy or for a young child can feel confusing — especially when every plan seems similar at first glance. Parents often worry about keeping their OB-GYN or pediatrician, understanding extra benefits, and making sure both mother and baby have the right support after delivery.
This guide breaks down Louisiana Medicaid plan options side-by-side so families can compare plans more confidently. It also includes important 2026 updates, including the fact that UnitedHealthcare is no longer a Louisiana Medicaid plan option as of April 1, 2026. Families previously enrolled with UnitedHealthcare will need to select a new Healthy Louisiana plan.
Understanding your Louisiana Medicaid options for pregnancy and kids
Louisiana Medicaid offers several programs that help pregnant women and children access healthcare coverage.
LaMOMS
LaMOMS is Louisiana’s Medicaid program for pregnant women.
It covers:
Prenatal care
Labor and delivery
Hospital care
Prescriptions
Pregnancy-related services
Up to 12 months of postpartum care
Some women who do not qualify for regular Medicaid may still qualify for LaMOMS based on pregnancy income guidelines.
🔗 Learn more: https://ldh.la.gov/medicaid/lamoms
LaCHIP
LaCHIP is Louisiana’s Children’s Health Insurance Program.
It provides low-cost or free healthcare coverage for children in families who earn too much to qualify for traditional Medicaid but still need affordable insurance.
LaCHIP covers:
Pediatric visits
Vaccinations
Prescriptions
Hospital care
Dental services
Vision care
Healthy Louisiana plans
Both LaMOMS and LaCHIP are administered through Louisiana’s Healthy Louisiana managed care plans.
Families choose one of five plans:
Aetna Better Health of Louisiana
AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
Healthy Blue
Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana
Louisiana Healthcare Connections
All plans cover the same required Medicaid benefits. The biggest differences are:
Pregnancy programs
Child wellness rewards
Care management services
Provider networks
Extra member benefits
Comparing the Healthy Louisiana plans for pregnancy and kids
All Healthy Louisiana plans cover required Medicaid services, but each plan offers different pregnancy programs, rewards, and support resources.
Aetna Better Health of Louisiana
📞 Member Services: 1-855-242-0802 (TTY: 711)
🔗https://www.aetnabetterhealth.com/louisiana/pregnancy-care.html
Pregnancy support
Pregnancy care management support
Prenatal wellness programs
Support for scheduling prenatal visits
Child wellness support
Rewards for preventive care visits
Well-child visit incentives
Pediatric care coordination support
AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana
📞 Member Services: 1-888-756-0004
🔗https://www.amerihealthcaritasla.com
Pregnancy support
Pregnancy care management
Prenatal education and support
Postpartum care coordination
Child wellness support
Well-child visit incentives
Pediatric preventive care rewards
Care coordination for children with healthcare needs
Healthy Blue Louisiana
📞 Member Services: 1-844-521-6941
🔗https://provider.healthybluela.com
Pregnancy support
Prenatal care incentives
Postpartum visit rewards
Pregnancy case management support
Child wellness support
Rewards for well-child visits
Preventive care incentives
Pediatric care coordination resources
Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana
📞 Member Services: 1-800-448-3810
🔗https://www.humana.com/medicaid/louisiana/benefits/humanabeginnings
Pregnancy support
HumanaBeginnings pregnancy program
Dedicated care manager support
Pregnancy education resources
Free portable crib for eligible members
Child wellness support
Well-child visit rewards
Healthy behavior incentives
Pediatric support services
Louisiana Healthcare Connections
📞 Member Services: 1-866-595-8133 (TTY: 711)
Pregnancy support
Start Smart for Your Baby program
Prenatal and postpartum rewards
Pregnancy care management support
Child wellness support
Well-child rewards
Pediatric preventive care incentives
Family care coordination resources
Which Louisiana Medicaid plan is best for pregnancy?
There is no single “best” Louisiana Medicaid plan for pregnancy. The right plan depends on your doctors, your hospital system, your preferred providers, and the type of support you want during and after pregnancy.
All Healthy Louisiana plans cover:
Prenatal care
Delivery
Prescriptions
Hospital care
Postpartum services
As of 2026, Louisiana Medicaid now includes up to 12 months of postpartum coverage for eligible mothers. Because of this, it’s important to think beyond delivery and consider how a plan supports ongoing postpartum care.
When comparing plans during pregnancy, consider:
Whether your OB-GYN or midwife is in-network
Which hospitals participate
Pregnancy care management programs
Rewards for prenatal visits and postpartum checkups
Access to member services and care coordination
Some plans have more prominent pregnancy-specific programs, including:
HumanaBeginnings
Start Smart for Your Baby
These programs offer extra pregnancy education, care management, and postpartum support, but the best fit depends on your family’s needs.
Should you keep the same Medicaid plan for your baby after birth?
When your baby is enrolled in Louisiana Medicaid, you can choose to keep your baby on the same plan as the mother or select a different one.
Neither choice is automatically wrong. The best option depends on your providers and priorities.
Benefits of staying on the same plan
Easier care coordination
Keeping mother and baby on the same plan can simplify communication between providers, care managers, and member services teams during the postpartum period.
Shared providers
Some providers see both mothers and children. Staying on one plan can help families remain within the same provider network.
Simpler administration
One plan means:
One member portal
One customer service number
One set of plan rules
Fewer administrative headaches during a busy newborn period
When choosing a different plan might make sense
Pediatrician access
If your preferred pediatrician is not in your current plan’s network, another plan may work better for your baby.
Specialist coverage
Some plans may have stronger pediatric specialist networks depending on your region.
Child wellness rewards
Families may also compare plans based on well-child rewards and extra pediatric benefits.
Louisiana Medicaid’s updated 2026 plan-switching rules also give families more flexibility to change plans later if their needs change.
Which Louisiana Medicaid plan is best for kids?
There is no single “best” Medicaid plan for children in Louisiana. The best plan depends on your child’s providers, healthcare needs, and access to care in your area.
When comparing plans for children, consider:
Whether your pediatrician is in-network
Well-child visit rewards
Access to specialists
Vision and dental provider availability
Ease of scheduling care
Care coordination support
LaCHIP and Louisiana Medicaid cover the same core pediatric services across all Healthy Louisiana plans, including:
Well-child visits
Vaccinations
Prescriptions
Dental care
Vision care
Hospital services
The differences are mostly in extra benefits, provider networks, and rewards programs.
🔗 Compare plans side-by-side: https://myplan.healthy.la.gov/compare-plans
How to enroll in a Louisiana Medicaid plan for pregnancy or kids
Once approved for Louisiana Medicaid or LaCHIP, families choose a Healthy Louisiana plan to access benefits.
⚠️ Families previously enrolled with UnitedHealthcare must select a new plan because UHC exited Louisiana Medicaid effective April 1, 2026.
Louisiana also updated its Medicaid rules in 2026 to allow more flexible plan switching if family needs change during pregnancy or after birth.
1. Enroll online
🔗https://myplan.healthy.la.gov
Families can compare plans, review providers, and enroll online.
2. Enroll by phone
📞 1-855-229-6848
Healthy Louisiana representatives can help families compare and select plans.
3. Enroll in person
Families can also visit:
Medicaid application centers
State Medicaid offices
Community enrollment locations
If a plan is not selected during the enrollment window, Louisiana Medicaid will automatically assign one.
FAQs
Will my baby be on the same Medicaid plan as me?
Not automatically. Parents can choose the same plan or a different one for their baby.
What is the income limit for pregnancy Medicaid in Louisiana?
LaMOMS covers pregnant women at higher income levels than standard Medicaid. Income limits depend on household size.
Is it easier to get Medicaid if you are pregnant?
Yes. LaMOMS allows pregnant women to qualify at higher income levels than regular Medicaid.
What are the 5 Medicaid plans in Louisiana?
Aetna Better Health, AmeriHealth Caritas, Healthy Blue, Humana Healthy Horizons, and Louisiana Healthcare Connections.
What is the most popular Medicaid plan in Louisiana?
Louisiana does not publish plan popularity rankings. Families should compare plans based on providers and benefits.
What free baby stuff can Medicaid provide?
Some plans offer extras like portable cribs, gift cards, and rewards for prenatal and well-child visits.
Prenatal and pediatric care with Nest Health
Choosing a Medicaid plan is only one part of preparing for pregnancy and parenthood. Families also need accessible, reliable healthcare support after enrollment.
Nest Health provides in-home and virtual prenatal, postpartum, pediatric, and family medicine care for eligible Louisiana Medicaid families through participating Healthy Louisiana plans.
Nest works alongside your chosen Medicaid plan to help families receive care more easily at home.
Services may include:
In-home prenatal care
Nest Origin postpartum support
Pediatric visits
Behavioral health support
Care coordination
24/7 access to care guidance
Instead of juggling multiple appointments during pregnancy or with a newborn, families can receive much of their care directly at home.
📞 Nest services may be available to your family at no additional cost through your Medicaid health plan. Call 866-222-NEST (6378) to check your eligibility.
