Get Connected, Stay Connected

New Orleanians in the hospitality, culture and tourism industry face a rapidly changing healthcare landscape and increasing barriers to care:

  • Louisiana’s new Quarterly Wage checks went into effect in 2025, dropping 25,000 people from the rolls in one year.
  • Federal HR 1 changes to Medicaid, including more frequent eligibility checks and workers’ requirements, will go into effect Jan 1, 2027.
  • Marketplace subsidies expired at the end of 2025, causing premiums to skyrocket and prompting many people to go without insurance coverage because of unaffordable costs.
  • 69,000 Louisianans ended their Marketplace plans from January – June 2026 or 1 in 4 enrollees statewide.
  • UnitedHealthCare’s state Medicaid contract ended, leaving thousands of patients unsure of their coverage status. The 2027 Medicaid contracting period may results in more shifts for Medicaid members and more confusion.

Increased verifications and eligibility checks mean more paperwork, more confusion, more people losing coverage even when they are eligible for benefits, and more disruptions to care. 

 

504HealthNet’s Get Connected, Stay Connected campaign encourages residents of the Greater New Orleans’ Region to take steps to Get Connected and Stay Connected to care through our network of trusted community clinics. 

What the Changes Mean for You

  • The Louisiana Department of Health has made significant changes to the Medicaid program to comply with new federal and state rules.
  • Starting in 2027, Medicaid will require people to prove they’re working.
  • Please prepare to receive more frequent notices from Medicaid asking for more information than ever before.
    • Make sure Medicaid has your current home address and phone number.
    • If you get a letter from Medicaid requesting information, don’t set it aside. You need to reply quickly or you could lose healthcare coverage.
  • Gig workers, hospitality and cultural workers’ income may change during high tourism and festival seasons which could knock them off the roles. Tipped workers are also more likely to receive notices and be responsible for reporting wages to Medicaid, increasing the risk of losing coverage because they missed a piece of mail, not because they are ineligible.
  • Employer-based insurance costs are going up and thousands of Louisianans could be priced out.
  • Marketplace plan discounts expired at the end of 2025, so household insurance bills rose in costs and families dropped their plans.
  • Many people are going to end up uninsured with these ongoing changes.

CARE IS STILL HERE

  • You can still get care. With or without insurance, there are still clinics in your neighborhood to receive care.
  • 504HealthNet organizations operate community clinics in the Greater New Orleans area that offer preventative, primary, and behavioral healthcare. No matter your insurance status or ability to pay.
  • The Find a Clinic tool on the 504HealthNet website helps community members and organizations to find healthcare services they need nearby.
  • Don’t skip care! If you are impacted by changes, are unsure of your insurance status, or lose coverage, you can still get care through clinics in the 504HealthNet network.

Get Connected, Stay Connected Campaign Toolkits

Get Connected, Stay Connected Healthy Hospitality Toolkit (English) [Download PDF]

Get Connected, Stay Connected Community Toolkit (English) [Download PDF]

Get Connected, Stay Connected Community Toolkit (Spanish) [Download PDF]

Get Connected, Stay Connected Community Toolkit (Vietnamese) [Download PDF]

Keep Track of the Changes: Resources & Toolkits

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