Benefits Overview
Louisiana Healthcare Connections offers health insurance plans with comprehensive healthcare services that suit the needs of families and individuals throughout Louisiana.
View some of Louisiana Healthcare Connections' benefits below. You can also view more information in our Member Handbook.
Some members have special health needs, so Louisiana Healthcare Connections offers one-on-one help for certain health conditions or diseases. Case Management is designed provide support and services such as care navigation, health education, home care, or community resources for help.
Care management and disease coaching are part of your health benefits and are provided to you at no cost. We provide services for many conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, COPD, high-risk pregnancy and many more. Call Member Services at 1-866-595-8133 (Hearing Loss: 711).
Additional Health Support for Care Management
The following are extra benefits available for our members in care management. Talk with your care manager to see if these services may be able to help with your condition.
Alternatives to Opioids for Chronic Pain Management
Members with a chronic pain diagnosis or those at-risk for developing chronic pain, regardless of age, can work with their care management team to receive alternatives to opioids for pain management. There are alternative treatments available if they are medically necessary to alleviate pain and restore activity levels.
Home-Based Asthma Interventions
Many times, asthma can be made worse by things around the home, like mold. Members with asthma who are in Care Management can get extra help with these issues at home. This includes home-based services or products known to improve asthma, like mold clean up, and pest control. It also includes home asthma management education, like the Louisiana Department of Health’s BREATHE program.
Help with Health-Harming Home Issues
Members active in care management and who agree to a home assessment may be eligible to receive a healthy home support for specific services such as mold removal, pest control, and utility connections to help with health-harming issues in their home.
Transportation for Health and Wellness Needs
This extra transportation benefit includes rides to locations that improve your health and well-being. This can include places such as food pantries, pharmacies, WIC appointments, our Community Wellness Centers and more. These transportation services are for members participating in care management, subject to availability, and all members under the age of 17 must be with an adult.
Cell Phones: Federal SafeLink Program and ConnectionsPlus®
The federal SafeLink program provides free prepaid cell phones to people with limited or no phone access. This allows you to keep in contact with health care providers, care managers, telehealth services, and 911. For members participating in care management that do not qualify for SafeLink, we provide free cell phones and data plans through ConnectionsPlus®.
The SafeLink program provides a free smartphone and phone services to Louisiana Healthcare Connections members.
This program provides a way for members to communicate with their:
- Primary Care Provider and other health care providers
- Care Manager
- Family members
- Louisiana Healthcare Connections’ Member Services customer call center, 24/7 Nurse Advice Line and 24/7 Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Line
The program includes:
- Free smartphone (or a free SIM card with the Keep Your Own Smartphone* program)
- Free phone services from SafeLink Wireless® including:
- 4.5GB of monthly data**
- 350 monthly calling minutes
- Free calls to Louisiana Healthcare Connections at 1-866-595-8133
- Free calls to 911 emergency - Unlimited text messages
- Voicemail, caller ID and call waiting
- Free technical support
*To Keep Your Own Smartphone, you must have a compatible GSM phone (which includes T-Mobile and AT&T compatible phones). Your phone must also be unlocked. Several other carriers also use GSM networks. To confirm yours is included, call your carrier.
**Unused data will not carryover from month-to-month. A month equals 30 days.
How find out if you qualify and to enroll in the program:
- Visit SafeLink.com to apply online. This is the fastest way to enroll.
- Call SafeLink Wireless® at 1-877-631-2550 to apply over the phone.
Use promo code LAHEALTHCARE.
Chiropractic services aim to treat pain and improve function in your spine, nervous system, and muscles. For members age 20 and younger, services need prior authorization. For members age 21 and older, up to 18 sessions per year are covered.
As a Louisiana Healthcare Connections Member, you can choose who you see for your healthcare needs from our network of Providers. We have many for you to choose from. If you need help choosing a doctor, call Member Services at 1-866-595-8133 (Hearing Loss: 711).
Your Dental Benefits
Great dental benefits are part of your plan! Your whole family can keep their smiles healthy with dental coverage for both children and adults.
Members Under Age 21
Members under age 21 get dental screenings from their Primary Care Provider (PCP). Their Medicaid dental plan provides additional benefits that cover most children’s dental needs. These include exams, cleanings and fillings.
To find a provider, contact your Medicaid dental plan:
DentaQuest: 1-800-685-0143 (TTY: 1-800-466-7566), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MCNA Dental: 1-855-702-6262 (TTY: 1-800-955-8771), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Members Age 21 and Over
Members age 21 and over get up to $500 in dental benefits per calendar year.
Covered dental services include:
- Dental exams and cleanings (twice a year)
- Preventive x-rays (once a year)
- One whole mouth set of x-rays (every three years)
- Fillings
- Simple tooth extractions
- Deep cleaning and plaque removal
And you will leave your appointment with a new toothbrush, toothpaste and floss so you can keep your smile healthy at home.
To find an in-network dental provider in your area, use our Find a Provider tool. Or call Member Services at 1-866-595-8133 (TTY: 711), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7p.m.
Adult Denture Services
Members who need dentures or denture repairs may qualify for coverage through their Medicaid dental plan.
To find a provider, contact your Medicaid dental plan:
DentaQuest: 1-800-685-0143 (TTY: 1-800-466-7566), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
MCNA Dental: 1-855-702-6262 (TTY: 1-800-955-8771), Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Preventative care visits are covered by Louisiana Healthcare Connections. This means visiting the doctor for a regular check-up, rather than waiting until you are sick.
Louisiana Healthcare Connections covers an annual physical for adults.
Regular child check-ups are also covered for those under the age of 21. These doctor visits should occur at the below ages. Children also need a blood lead test at 12 and 24 months of age. We cover this. After that, if they are high risk, they need the blood lead test each year age 3 to 6.
- Birth or neonatal exam
- 2 to 4 days for newborns discharged less than 48 hours after delivery
- By 1 month
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 12 months
- 15 months
- 18 months
- Once per year from 2 years old through 20 years old
As an extra benefit available for Louisiana Healthcare Connections members, hearing exams, treatment, and hearing aids and related supplies such as earpieces and batteries are covered. Members age 21 and older are limited to one hearing exam per year and one hearing aid every two years.
Mental health and substance use treatment are important part of healthcare. To learn more about these benefits, visit our mental health and substance use pages.
As an extra benefits for Louisiana Healthcare Connections members, circumcision is offered to newborn members during their hospital stay at birth, or in an office setting up to the member’s first birthday.
We are ready to answer your health questions 24 hours a day – every day of the year. How can our nurses help you?
- Answers for your health and prescription questions
- Help finding a doctor, urgent care clinic or pharmacy
- Information about pregnancy and other health conditions
Our nurses have spent lots of time caring for people. Now they are ready to help you. Call 1-866-595-8133 and say "Nurse."
Through our MemberConnections program, we can help you get the support you need. They can talk with you about things like how to choose a doctor, plan benefits and living healthy. They can also connect you to community social service programs. These programs can help you with food, housing and clothing.
Start Smart for Your Baby® is our special program for women who are pregnant and for moms who just had a baby. We’re here to help you take care of yourself and your baby every step of the way. If you are pregnant, please let us know by completing a Notification of Pregnancy form on our secure member portal. Or call Member Services and we’ll help you complete your form over the phone. That’s all you need to do to enroll in Start Smart for Your Baby®. You will receive health information and support by mail and over the phone. You can also search our Health & Wellness section for health tips on pregnancy, postpartum care, breastfeeding and more.
Are You Pregnant? Tell Us Right Away!
Login to your Louisiana Healthcare Connections account anytime and fill out the Notification of Pregnancy form. Or complete your form over the phone. Just call Member Services at 1-866-595-8133 (hearing loss: 711), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, keep these things in mind:
- Go before you show! Go to the doctor as soon as you think you are pregnant. It is important for you and your baby to see a doctor as early as possible. Then, continue prenatal care throughout your pregnancy. Before you are pregnant, make sure your body is ready by completing your yearly well-woman exam. Find an OB/GYN by using our online search tool.
- Maintain healthy lifestyle habits. This includes exercising, eating balanced and healthy meals and resting for 8-10 hours every night.
- Do not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs while you’re pregnant.
Breastfeeding & Breast Pump Coverage
Doctors and health organizations agree that breastfeeding is best. You may already know that breast milk is packed with the perfect mix of nutrients your baby needs. Did you know that it is also more than just food? Breast milk has special ingredients only you can provide, like antibodies, which help protect your baby from illness.
An electric breast pump is a covered benefit for all mothers who choose to breastfeed. Your provider can write you a prescription for your breast pump. You can order your breast pump online at no cost to you through Medline or Nextra Health. Or talk to your OB/GYN about ordering your breast pump.
Home Visiting Programs
Members who are pregnant and enrolled in Case Management can be connected to home visiting programs where they will get help and guidance during pregnancy and newborn care. These programs are proven to improve prenatal and maternal health and birth outcomes as well as child health and development. Programs include:
- Louisiana Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP): provides guidance during pregnancy and newborn care
- Parents as Teachers (PAT): helps navigate services and keep babies on track for a healthy life
Translation and interpreter services are available at no cost to our members. This includes sign language and real-time oral interpretation.
Louisiana Healthcare Connections has a telephone interpretation line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can help you talk with your doctors and other health care providers when another interpreter is not available. Additionally, we’ll gladly translate any of our member materials into your preferred language upon request. We can also provide things in other formats such as Braille, CD or large print.
To request an interpreter, call us at 1-866-595-8133 (Hearing Loss: 711) and tell us the language you speak. We will make sure an interpreter is on the phone with you when you call your health care provider, or is available at your appointment.
If you need an interpreter for your medical appointment, contact Louisiana Healthcare Connections 24 hours a day, 7 days a week before your appointment. We will arrange for one to be at your appointment.
Get rewarded for focusing on your health! Louisiana Healthcare Connections has a program that gives our members rewards on a special card for completing healthy behaviors. Earn My Health Pays™ rewards when you complete healthy activities like a yearly wellness exam, annual screenings and other ways to protect your health.
Learn more about My Health Pays™ and how much you could earn!
Free Transportation to Appointments
We are here to help you get healthy and stay health. So if you don't have transportation, we will give you a ride to your appointments for Medicaid-covered services. This service is available at no cost to you.
All you have to do is call to schedule a ride at least two days before your appointment! If you are sick or need urgent care, you can even call for a same-day ride. Plus, we can take you by the pharmacy to pick up prescriptions after your appointment.
Louisiana Healthcare Connections covers examinations and treatment of eye conditions. This includes: vision correction and refraction error, regular eyeglasses when they meet a certain minimum strength requirement, medically-necessary specialty eyewear and contact lenses (with prior authorization), and other related services that are medically necessary. Contact lenses are covered if they are the only means of restoring vision.
For members under age 21, covered vision services include:
- regular screening
- corrective and medical services
- up to three pairs of glasses per year
For adult members (age 21 and older), covered vision services include:
- annual eye exam and refraction
- treatment of eye conditions
- one pair of glasses or up to 12 sets of contacts per year