Some 58,000 Medicaid recipients in Louisiana might fall short of work requirements
Sep 21, 2026 | 5:00 am ET
Description
Most of Louisiana's 1.3 million Medicaid recipients will be exempt from the work requirements that will be imposed on the program in 2027, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Health. (Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
As many as 58,000 Louisiana Medicaid recipients might have to take additional steps to meet the new federal work requirements for the program that go into effect in January, according to information from the state health department.
A breakdown on how many of Louisiana’s 1.3 million Medicaid enrollees already fulfill the work requirements or qualify for an exemption was part of an informational packet provided to state lawmakers Thursday at a meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
The new Medicaid rules coming in 2027 will require tens of thousands of Louisiana residents between age 19 and 65 to earn at least $580 per month, or they must work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month to keep their benefits. They can also enroll in school or job training part-time to meet the requirement.
Most Medicaid recipients will be able to opt out of the work requirements entirely. The health department’s breakdown shows the vast majority of Medicaid enrollees, 1.1 million, will be automatically granted an exemption.
Common reasons for an exemption include being the parent or caregiver of a dependent child (50,470 people) or a person with a disability (55,268). Pregnant women (15,200) and postpartum women (11,219) can also bypass the work requirements, according to the health department.
Approximately 80,000 people who receive Medicaid also already meet the work requirements through their current, low-paying job, according to state data.
Around 46,000 Medicaid recipients who don’t have an existing exemption also have no income, making it more likely they would have to make adjustments to keep their benefits. Another 12,000 earn some money each month but not enough to satisfy the work requirement threshold.
Still, it’s not clear how many of those remaining 58,000 could already be in compliance with the proposed work regulations through taking part in school, job training or volunteer work. The health department has not started tracking those activities yet.
Baton Rouge, LA
