Quick answer
Louisiana’s 2026 benchmark silver plan averaged $646 a month for a 40-year-old before subsidies, a little above the U.S. average of $625. Most enrollees pay far less: 91% got financial help, and those who qualified paid $82 a month on average. Final 2027 rates rise 18.1% on average before subsidies, and all six of the state’s insurers are coming back.
Key takeaways
- Louisiana’s 2026 benchmark premium for a 40-year-old was $646 a month before subsidies, about $21 above the national average.
- 296,648 Louisianans picked a Marketplace plan for 2026, slightly more than in 2025, even as sign-ups fell nationally.
- 91% of 2026 enrollees got a tax credit or cost-sharing help, and 34% paid less than $10 a month.
- Final 2027 rates rise 18.1% on average, ranging by insurer from 10.5% for AmeriHealth Caritas to 24.5% for Ambetter.
- Starting January 1, 2027, Medicaid expansion adults ages 19 to 64 must meet new work requirements unless they’re exempt.
On this page
What a Louisiana Marketplace plan costs before subsidies
| Age | Benchmark silver plan, per month (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| 21 | $505 |
| 30 | $574 |
| 40 | $646 |
| 50 | $903 |
| 60 | $1,372 |
| 64 | $1,516 |
| Child under 15 | $387 |
With two 40-year-old parents and two young children, full-price benchmark coverage would be about $2,065 a month.
What you’d pay after a tax credit
In Louisiana, 91% of enrollees got help in 2026, compared with about 87% nationally. The premium tax credit is available with household income from 100% to 400% of the federal poverty level, and it limits your cost for the benchmark plan to a percentage of that income. For a single 40-year-old earning $40,000, that’s about $287 a month for the benchmark plan in 2026, with the credit covering about $359. In 2027 their share would be about $289 a month. Above 400% of the poverty level ($62,600 for one person for 2026 coverage, $63,840 for 2027), the credit ends and you’d pay full price.
The average across all Louisiana enrollees in 2026, including people who paid full price, was $144 a month after tax credits. That’s below the national average of $178.
Louisiana expanded Medicaid in 2016, so adults with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 a year for one person in 2026) can usually get Medicaid instead. See health insurance for low-income families.
Costs beyond the premium
A low premium doesn’t mean low costs when you need care. Plans have a deductible and copays or coinsurance, and your yearly spending on covered in-network care is capped by the out-of-pocket maximum: $10,600 for one person in 2026, rising to $12,000 in 2027. If your income is below 250% of the poverty level, choose a silver plan to get cost-sharing reductions, which shrink those amounts.
Louisiana Marketplace facts
- Marketplace: HealthCare.gov, the federal exchange.
- Enrollment: 296,648 plan selections for 2026, up from 292,994 in 2025. 91% got financial help.
- Insurers: Six carriers sold 2026 plans, and all six are returning for 2027: AmeriHealth Caritas, Ambetter from Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare and CHRISTUS Health Plan Louisiana. Cigna doesn’t sell Marketplace plans in Louisiana.
- 2027 prices: Final. Rates rise 18.1% on average. By insurer: AmeriHealth Caritas 10.5%, CHRISTUS 13.4%, HMO Louisiana 13.7%, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana 14.4%, UnitedHealthcare 21.1% and Ambetter 24.5%. Small-group plans rise 11.9%. See premium increases by state.
- State help: Louisiana has no state premium subsidy, reinsurance program or individual mandate, so the federal tax credit is the main source of help.
- Medicaid: Healthy Louisiana covers adults up to 138% of the poverty level, and LaCHIP covers children up to 255%. Medicaid coverage lasts 12 months after a baby is born.
When to enroll
Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 on HealthCare.gov. Sign up by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. Every insurer is returning, but their 2027 increases range from 10.5% to 24.5%, so compare plans before you renew; see how to lower your Marketplace premium.
Other options in Louisiana
- Coverage through your job or a spouse’s job, usually the cheapest route when it’s offered.
- Healthy Louisiana for adults up to 138% of the poverty level. Starting January 1, 2027, expansion adults ages 19 to 64 must work, volunteer or join a work program for 80 hours a month, earn at least $580 a month, or attend school at least half-time, unless they’re exempt; see Medicaid work requirements.
- LaCHIP for children; see health insurance for children.
- Medicare at 65.
Health insurance costs in nearby states: Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. You can also compare health insurance costs in every state.
See 2027 plans and prices in your Louisiana parish: compare quotes by ZIP code.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance in Louisiana per month?
Before subsidies, the 2026 benchmark silver plan for a 40-year-old averaged $646 a month. After tax credits, Louisiana enrollees paid $144 a month on average, and those who qualified for help paid $82.
How much are Louisiana premiums going up in 2027?
Final 2027 rates rise 18.1% on average before subsidies. Increases range from 10.5% for AmeriHealth Caritas to 24.5% for Ambetter.
Did Louisiana expand Medicaid?
Yes, in 2016. Adults qualify for Healthy Louisiana with incomes up to 138% of the poverty level, and children can get LaCHIP up to 255%.
Will Louisiana Medicaid have work requirements?
Yes, starting January 1, 2027, for expansion adults ages 19 to 64 who don’t qualify for an exemption. The Louisiana Department of Health says the change won’t affect most Louisiana Medicaid members. Exemptions include parents of children under 14 and people who are pregnant or medically frail.
Sources
- healthinsurance.org: Louisiana Health Insurance Marketplace
- ACA Signups: 2027 Rate Changes – Louisiana
- healthinsurance.org: Louisiana Medicaid
- Louisiana Department of Health: Medicaid Work or Community Engagement Requirements
- KFF: Marketplace Average Premiums and Average APTC
- KFF: Marketplace Average Benchmark Premiums
This article is general information, not insurance or tax advice. Your premium depends on your parish, age, income and plan. Last reviewed September 2026.