Medicare (Parts A through D and the 2026 figures), the standardized Medigap plans and federal enrollment rights, Medicaid, and long-term care basics are covered in the national Senior and Special Needs guide. Louisiana adds its own Medicare supplement rules (R.S. 22:1111, 22:1112) and long-term care rules (R.S. 22:1186 to 22:1188, and 22:1575 for producer training). Its Medigap law includes a birthday rule and an open enrollment right after losing employer coverage.

Medicare supplement (Medigap)

Before and at the sale:

• Advertising. Every Medigap advertisement intended for Louisiana goes to the Commissioner for review and approval before use (22:1111).
• Free look. A notice on the first page gives the buyer 30 days after delivery to return the policy for a premium refund (22:1111).

Preexisting conditions. A policy may not deny a claim for a preexisting condition for losses incurred more than six months after the effective date. The look-back is limited to six months (22:1111(C)(3)).

Birthday rule (22:1112(A)):

• A person who already has a Medigap policy gets an annual open enrollment period of 63 days that starts on their birthday.
• During that period they may buy a plan from the same insurer or an affiliate with equal or lesser benefits.
• The insurer can't deny the application or price it on health.

Loss of employer coverage (22:1112(B)). A Medicare-eligible person whose employer group health plan ends, stops paying benefits, or is left gets a 63-day Medigap open enrollment period starting on that date.

Long-term care insurance

Underwriting and issue:

• An LTC policy may not be field issued based on medical or health status (22:1187(D)).
• A preexisting condition may be defined only as one for which advice or treatment was recommended or received within six months before coverage (22:1186).
• A policy that requires a prior institutional stay before paying non-institutional benefits may require no more than 30 days (22:1186).

Free look. The applicant may return the policy within 30 days of delivery for a refund (22:1186).

Contestability (22:1187):

Nonforfeiture (22:1188):

• The buyer must be offered a policy with a nonforfeiture benefit.
• If the buyer declines it, the policy still includes a contingent benefit upon lapse. That benefit becomes available for a period after a substantial premium increase.

Producer training (22:1575):

• Before selling LTC, a life or health producer completes 8 hours of training, then 4 hours every two years.
• The training covers subjects such as the effect of inflation on benefits.
• It may not be insurer-specific or sales training.

Common exam traps

• The free look is 30 days for both Medigap and LTC.
• Louisiana's Medigap birthday rule gives 63 days and is limited to the same insurer or an affiliate and equal or lesser benefits.
• Losing employer coverage opens a 63-day Medigap enrollment period.
• Field issue of LTC on health status is prohibited.
• An LTC policy is contestable only for knowing, intentional misrepresentation after two years.
• A buyer who declines nonforfeiture still gets a contingent benefit upon lapse.
• LTC training is 8 hours, then 4 hours every two years.