Louisiana Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Louisiana?

Louisiana dropped just one spot – but it was to the very bottom spot – the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• The state did have positive changes to report over the previous year, including – most notably – a 37 percent increase in the amount of public health funding per person (from $69 to $95) and an increase in access to primary care physicians.
• The state's best ranking – was in the category of mental health days. Louisiana was ranked 8th of the 50 states, reporting an average of 3 mental health days in the previous 30, compared to a national average of 3.6.
• The prevalence of binge drinking in Louisiana also fell slightly over the previous year, from 13.6 percent to 13.3 percent of the population reported as having drunken excessively during the previous 30 days.

The bad news:

• In 13 categories, Louisiana was ranked among the bottom 10 states – and 11 of those were in the bottom five.
• The state's worst ratings were 49th for premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75), for a high rate of infant mortality and for a high number of deaths due to all types of cancer.
• The state's worst ratings were 49th for premature death (years of potential life lost prior to age 75), for a high rate of infant mortality and for a high number of deaths due to all types of cancer.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Poor mental health days – 8th
• Prevalence of binge drinking – 13th
• Prevalence of smoking – 41st
• Occupational fatalities – 42nd
• Cardiovascular deaths – 45th
• High school graduation – 46th (63.9 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate)
• Infectious disease – 46th
• Prevalence of obesity – 47th
• Violent crime – 47th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 47th
• Lack of health insurance – 47th
• Preventable hospitalizations – 48th
• Cancer deaths – 49th
• Infant mortality – 49th
• Premature death – 49th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Louisiana.

Does Louisiana have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Louisiana Health Plan
Toll-free 1-800-736-0947 or (504) 926-6245

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Louisiana

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Louisiana and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Louisiana.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

USNews health insurance rankings for Louisiana

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Louisiana.

Official State Goverment Sites with Louisiana Health Insurance Information

Louisiana Department of Insurance/Health Insurance-- has descriptions of specific divisions and programs within the Department of Insurance that specifically deal with health insurance issues-- each listing has several contacts listed.

• The department publishes this PDF consumer guide to individual health insurance in Louisiana.
• The Senior Health Insurance Information Program is for Louisiana residents who have reached retirement age.
• File a complaint against an insurance company doing business in Louisana. Here's a PDF guide on how to file a complaint.

Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals A 2005 report in PDF on health insurance in Louisiana. Get summary. Get full report.

Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) provides no-cost health insurance to low-income children, including dental care. Includes doctor charges, hospitalization, immunization and other services.