Louisiana closes UnitedHealthcare contract, reassigns Medicaid members

news

Published March 31st, 2026

Detected April 1st, 2026

Summary

The Louisiana Department of Health announced closure of its contract with UnitedHealthcare, completing the reassignment of approximately 280,000 Medicaid members to other participating managed care organizations. Over 36,000 members selected new plans during the Special Enrollment Period from January 15 to February 15, with remaining members auto-assigned using an algorithm that prioritized family unity and provider continuity. Receiving MCOs are required to honor all existing care authorizations for 60 days following the transition.

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What changed

LDH has completed its contract termination with UnitedHealthcare and finalized the reassignment of nearly 280,000 Medicaid members to competing managed care organizations. The transition utilized a Special Enrollment Period (January 15 - February 15) for voluntary plan selection, followed by algorithm-based auto-assignment that kept family members together and maintained in-network provider relationships. LDH conducted daily coordination calls with UnitedHealthcare and remaining MCOs to ensure data and authorization transfers enabled continuity of care.

Medicaid members have received new insurance cards. Any member dissatisfied with their assigned plan may change plans without cause. Receiving MCOs must honor all current authorizations for 60 days. LDH will continue monitoring the transition and addressing member issues. No penalties or new compliance obligations are imposed on providers, but they should verify patient plan assignments and confirm that existing authorizations remain valid under the new MCO.

What to do next

Verify patient Medicaid plan assignments and confirm coverage under new MCO
Confirm that existing care authorizations remain valid under new MCO for 60 days
Assist patients requesting plan changes without cause

Source document (simplified)

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- LDH closes out contract with UnitedHealthcare, reassigns members

March 31, 2026 LDH closes out contract with UnitedHealthcare, reassigns members

Baton Rouge, Louisiana,

Mar 31, 2026

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) today announced the closure of its contract with UnitedHealthcare. As part of this transition, Medicaid members previously enrolled with UnitedHealthcare were reassigned to other participating managed care organizations (MCOs) to ensure uninterrupted access to care.

Over the past three months, LDH staff have worked tirelessly to ensure UnitedHealthcare members were successfully transitioned to new receiving plans with unfettered continuity of care. The Department established a Special Enrollment Period from January 15 to February 15, during which UnitedHealthcare members could select a plan with a new MCO. Of the nearly 280,000 members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare, over 36,000 selected a new plan. After February 15, members who did not select a new plan were assigned to new plans using an algorithm that prioritized placements that kept family members together and aimed to ensure members remained with their in-network providers.

“We appreciate the partnership of providers and health plans as we worked on a seamless experience for those we serve,” said Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein. “Throughout this transition, LDH remained focused on protecting continuity of care and minimizing any disruption to the services members rely on.”

To execute these changes, LDH held daily calls with UnitedHealthcare and the remaining MCOs to facilitate a smooth transition. These calls were instrumental to implementation and helped confirm that all parties had the appropriate data and authorizations for each UnitedHealthcare member, enabling the receiving MCOs to maintain continuity of care. MCOs will be required to honor all current authorizations of care for these new members for the next 60 days.

UnitedHealthcare members have received their new insurance cards. Members who are not satisfied with their new plan may change plans without cause. LDH will continue to monitor the transition over the coming weeks to support members and address any issues that arise.