New Orleans Senior AdvisorDoes Louisiana Medicaid pay for assisted living?
No: Louisiana Medicaid has no program that pays an ARCP's fee, room or board; it pays for nursing homes and for care at home through LT-PCS, the Community Choices Waiver, the ADHC Waiver and PACE.
This is the single biggest difference between Louisiana and states that run assisted living waivers.
What is the income limit for Louisiana long-term care Medicaid in 2026?
$2,982 a month, three times the SSI federal benefit rate; people with higher income can still qualify by spending the excess down on medical expenses, including the cost of care.
Countable income includes Social Security, pensions, retirement benefits and veterans' benefits.
What is the asset limit?
$2,000 in countable resources for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple living in the same facility; the home is usually excluded, subject to a $752,000 equity limit in 2026.
A spouse living at home keeps a protected share under federal spousal impoverishment standards, from $32,532 to $162,660 in 2026.
What is the Medicaid look-back period in Louisiana?
60 months: Louisiana Medicaid reviews transfers for less than fair value made in the five years before the application and can impose a penalty period.
Collect bank and financial statements for that period early; missing documents delay applications.
What is the Community Choices Waiver?
A Louisiana Medicaid waiver for adults 21+ who meet nursing home level of care, paying for personal assistance, adult day health care, meals, home modifications, nursing, respite and more at home.
Slots are offered by priority group and then by request date on the Request for Services Registry.
How much does a Medicaid nursing home resident keep each month?
$45 a month as a Personal Care Needs Allowance, raised from $38 on July 1, 2025.
Some residents also receive a state-funded Optional State Supplement, raised from $8 to $15 the same day.
How do I apply for Louisiana Medicaid long-term care?
Call Louisiana Options in Long-Term Care at 1-877-456-1146 to request waiver, LT-PCS, PACE or nursing home services, and apply financially through the Medicaid Self-Service Portal or Medicaid Customer Service at 1-888-342-6207.
Denials can be appealed to the Division of Administrative Law.
Can Medicaid pay a family member to provide care?
Through the Community Choices Waiver's monitored in-home caregiving service, a principal caregiver who lives with the participant, including a relative, can be paid for care given under professional oversight.
Ask Louisiana Options in Long-Term Care at 1-877-456-1146 how the service works and whether your parent qualifies.
Can I appeal a Medicaid denial in Louisiana?
Yes: a long-term care Medicaid decision can be appealed to the Division of Administrative Law, by mail or fax, or by phone through Medicaid Customer Service at 1-888-342-6207.
Appeal deadlines are short and printed on the notice, so act as soon as the letter arrives.
