BATON ROUGE, La. – Annual enrollment for HealthCare.gov plans begins today, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Louisiana Blue) announces it is lowering rates on some of its individual HMO plans by 9 percent. As the only Louisiana-based company offering products on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, the company is providing important tips on how Louisianians can find the option that is the best fit for their family’s needs and budget.
“Louisiana Blue is proud to once again be the
only health insurer in the state offering HealthCare.gov plans in every parish and ZIP code. We recognize that healthcare costs continue to be one of the top concerns among our members and are very pleased to be able to lower rates on some of our individual products for 2025 by as much as 9 percent, while keeping rates for many other plans the same as this year,” said Louisiana Blue Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut.
Congress extended HealthCare.gov financial assistance eligibility changes passed under the American Rescue Plan Act through December 2025. This means many more Louisianians – even some with very high incomes – are now eligible for financial assistance to help pay for their health plans. And, HealthCare.gov plans are an option for Louisianians who have learned they no longer qualify for the state’s Medicaid program.
“If you do not get affordable health insurance through an employer, you found out you’re losing Medicaid or you need to get covered, I’d encourage you to look at options on HealthCare.gov,” Bertaut said. “These plans probably cost much less than you think. And you don’t want to risk having a gap in coverage and paying medical bills completely out of pocket.”
The IRS also has changed rules to allow more spouses and dependents to enroll in HealthCare.gov plans. If an employer makes an offer of health insurance coverage to an employee’s family members that is deemed unaffordable by a federal standard, they can enroll in a HealthCare.gov plan and get premium tax credits if they are eligible based on their income.
“This change is bringing financial relief and more health plan options to Louisiana families,” Bertaut said. “So, as you make plans for your 2025 healthcare coverage, keep in mind that if your employer offers family coverage, you can test that offer at HealthCare.gov. You might be able to save money by enrolling your family members in a HealthCare.gov plan.”
Connect With An Agent
Need help reviewing your 2025 health plan options? You can work with a licensed, experienced agent at no cost. Connect with one by calling
1-844-GET-BLUE (1-844-438-2583; TTY 711). There is no obligation to buy because you speak to an agent.
Another resource is
Straight Talk, Louisiana Blue’s multimedia blog on healthcare costs, trends and policy. Bertaut recently wrote a post about
how to consider ratings on HealthCare.gov when picking a plan. Other posts share tips for health plan enrollment and explain recent changes. Visit
StraightTalkLA.com to see past posts. Sign up to get the Straight Talk e-newsletter, which is issued with every new post.
2025 Open Enrollment Period Dates to Know
• HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment Period begins Nov. 1, 2024
• Enroll in a HealthCare.gov plan by Dec. 15, 2024 for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2025
• HealthCare.gov Open Enrollment Period ends Jan. 15, 2025
• Coverage on plans enrolled in between Dec. 16, 2024 and Jan. 15, 2025 will start Feb. 1, 2025
How People Being Removed from Medicaid Can Stay Covered
Last year, the state health department began doing eligibility checks on Louisianians enrolled in Medicaid. These checks make sure they meet certain financial and other requirements to stay in the program. Checks had not taken place since March 2020 because of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which the federal government ended in 2023. Now that the state is checking eligibility again, they are removing people who no longer qualify from Medicaid. These eligibility checks will continue into 2025.
If you have found out you are losing Medicaid coverage, take these steps to stay covered:
• If you think you still qualify for Medicaid, reach out to your Medicaid health plan to verify your eligibility information. If you meet the program’s criteria, they can help you re-enroll.
• If you are 65 or older, ask about enrolling in a Medicare health plan.
• Check with your employer’s Human Resources department to see if they offer health insurance coverage. See what your plan options are.
• If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance coverage or you do not qualify for their plan, you can enroll in a HealthCare.gov plan.
The federal government allows a Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov for anyone who loses Medicaid coverage at any point during the year. But, if you already know you qualify to enroll in a HealthCare.gov plan, you can sign up for one during the annual Open Enrollment Period.
About Louisiana Blue
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, or
Louisiana Blue, is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. Founded in New Orleans in 1934, we are a tax-paying not-for-profit health insurer with offices in every major region to serve our customers. We have been recognized for the past six years as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. We invite all Louisianians to visit our website at
lablue.com or talk to us on
social media @MyLouisianaBlue.
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