Rules for Individual Louisiana Health Insurance

Unexpected injuries and health problems can cause financial disaster for your family if you are uninsured. For that reason, it is in your own best interests to carry health insurance and thus be prepared for the worst. It takes time and effort to analyze your circumstances and decide which medical insurance policy is best for you. There are many Louisiana health insurance options available to Louisiana residents, the sale of which is controlled by the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

Medical insurance companies in Louisiana can use your medical history as well as your current health status to determine what rates you will pay when insurance policies are medically underwritten. This is the case in Louisiana for individual medical insurance plans. Insurance companies in Louisiana also have the option of granting you full coverage or a lesser level of coverage depending on their assessment of your health. They can exclude coverage for health conditions that you have had during the last year; they can also view your medical history during this time. You will need to furnish credit for prior health insurance coverage during that year. Your individual rates are calculated with your health status, what plan you are applying for, your age, and your sex.

Rules for Small Group Louisiana Health Insurance

Employers are eligible for small group medical insurance in Louisiana if they want to cover between 2 and 50 workers. Group Louisiana health insurance does not base coverage on health status, making it guarantee issued. Employers do not have to include new employees in these plans as soon as they are hired; a waiting period can be enacted. Exclusion periods for previous medical conditions cannot exceed one year but the period of time does vary plan by plan. Insurance providers can view the last 6 months of medical history for applicants for small group insurance. If an applying group is considered to have sub-standard health, they can be charged a higher rate. However, the rate must stay within 35% of the state's indexed insurance rate. Applicants must also present proof of previous insurance coverage with gaps of uncovered time under 63 consecutive days.

Continuation Coverage and COBRA in Louisiana

Any group of insured employees with more than 20 members must abide by COBRA laws set by the federal government. These laws allow employees who leave their positions or are fired to keep their group insurance for 18 months. If the group insurance plan is liquidated, this does not apply; neither does it apply for employees who have been fired due to gross misconduct. Continued coverage, or COBRA, charges insured persons an extra 2% of their regular premiums. This coverage is good for not just the insured individual but also their dependents and spouses.

Regulation 68 of Louisiana state law provides groups of 2 - 19 insured employees with COBRA for 12 months under the mini-COBRA law. This law comes with some restrictions. For instance, a person who leaves a company but stays a part of their medical insurance plan cannot take on a second insurance plan as well; they must choose one. Taking advantage of the mini-COBRA law is only permissible after having sent a written request for it along with the total of one month's rates. When COBRA runs out, the state's high risk insurance pool provides guarantee issued insurance for people who qualify for HIPAA.

Enter your zip code above to receive a free health insurance quote in Louisiana.