Can You Use Louisiana Medicaid Out of State?
Louisiana Medicaid generally does not cover health care you receive outside of Louisiana.
Routine care — checkups, specialist visits, prescription refills — isn’t covered out of state, except in rare cases where your plan approves it ahead of time. No Medicaid services are covered outside the United States.
The one major exception is a medical emergency while you’re traveling within the country. Even then, two things have to happen for it to be covered:
The out-of-state hospital has to agree to enroll with Louisiana Medicaid so it can bill for the visit
You or the hospital must notify your managed care plan within 24 or 48 hours of being admitted (most Healthy Louisiana plans require notification within 24 hours)
If you’re planning to travel, call your managed care plan before you go. Not sure which plan you have? It’s printed on your Medicaid ID card, or you can look it up by logging into your account at healthy.la.gov. Once you know your plan — AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Aetna, Healthy Blue, Humana Healthy Horizons, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, or another plan — call to ask about their 24/7 nurse advice line, and find out exactly what to do if an emergency comes up while you’re away from home.
Can I Use My Medicaid Anywhere in the US?
Not for routine care. Medicaid is run state by state — each state has its own program, rules, and covered services. Your Louisiana Medicaid won’t cover routine checkups, specialist visits, or standard prescription refills if you’re out of state.
That said, there are a few exceptions:
Medical necessity: If a service is medically necessary and unavailable where you live, your managed care plan may approve it out of state with prior authorization. Always contact your plan before getting care to ask if your situation qualifies.
Emergencies: Federal law requires Medicaid to cover emergency care no matter what state you’re in when it happens. Remember: you or the hospital must notify your plan within 48 hours of being admitted to protect your coverage.
Border "Trade Area" agreements: Louisiana has trade area agreements for parishes that border Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. If you live near the state line, certain border hospitals and clinics may be treated like in-network Louisiana providers — giving you access to routine care there. Confirm with your health plan first before getting care in neighboring states.
Outside of these situations, routine out-of-state care generally isn't covered.
If you move to another state, you’ll need to apply for Medicaid there — Louisiana Medicaid ends when you establish residency elsewhere. You can’t continue using your Louisiana coverage in your new state.
Questions? Call the member services number on the back of your Medicaid card, or visit Medicaid.gov for more on how Medicaid works across state lines.
What Louisiana Medicaid Does NOT Cover Out of State
When you travel outside of Louisiana, the following are generally not covered unless your plan has approved it ahead of time:
Routine and preventive care — regular checkups, scheduled physicals, and preventive screenings
Specialist appointments
Elective procedures — any planned, non-emergency surgery or medical procedure at an out-of-state facility
Prescriptions filled at out-of-state pharmacies — emergency exceptions may apply; check with your plan
Chronic care and therapy — ongoing treatments like physical therapy, psychiatric care, chiropractic care, or dialysis, unless your plan has authorized out-of-state care
Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) — Louisiana Medicaid won’t pay to transport you out of state for care that’s reasonably available within Louisiana
Note: Even if you get prior authorization for out-of-state care, the out-of-state doctor or hospital must be actively enrolled as a provider with Louisiana Medicaid or your service bill will not be covered.
No care received outside the U.S. is covered by Louisiana Medicaid — no exceptions.
When in doubt, call your plan before you travel. It’s a lot easier than dealing with a denied claim afterward.
Not sure what your plan covers? You don't have to figure this out alone.
Nest Health is an in-home, whole-family primary care provider for Medicaid families in New Orleans and Baton Rouge — and part of what we do is help our patients navigate exactly these kinds of coverage questions. If you’re eligible for our services, our care team can help you sort out what’s covered, what requires a referral, and what steps to take next. Call 866-222-NEST (6378) to find out if your family qualifies.
