Transferring Medicaid from Virginia to Louisiana
Plan on a close-and-reapply. Virginia Medicaid only works while you live in Virginia; once you land in Louisiana, your application goes to Louisiana Department of Health (LDH). File it immediately after arriving, because processing takes time and coverage ties to the application date.
Both states cover adults under expansion rules at 138% of the federal poverty level, so if you qualified on income in Virginia, you will likely qualify in Louisiana too.
Official Louisiana Medicaid agency: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Gather your documents before the move
You will reapply from scratch: proof of identity, income (pay stubs or award letters), your new address, and immigration documents if applicable.
- 2
Tell Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services you are leaving
Report your move and ask for your case to be closed effective the end of the month you leave. Medicaid cannot cover you in two states at once.
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services ↗
Moving week
- 3
Time the closure to the end of your move month
Keep coverage through the month you travel. Your old state's coverage generally ends the month you stop being a resident.
After you arrive
- 4
Apply with Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) as soon as you arrive
There is no waiting period based on how long you have lived there — apply immediately. Processing: up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed). From January 1, 2027 (earlier in some states), most adults in the expansion group must also show 80 hours a month of work, school, job training, or community service, or an exemption, possibly for 1 to 3 months preceding the application.
Online application ↗ - 5
Ask about retroactive coverage
Most states can pay eligible medical bills from as early as the third month before the month you apply, so ask when you apply if you had care during the gap. For applications filed on or after January 1, 2027, federal law (Public Law 119-21) shortens this to the month before the month you apply for adults in the expansion group and the second month before the month you apply for everyone else.
Virginia vs Louisiana: the numbers that decide it
| Virginia (old state) | Louisiana (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Cardinal Care | Healthy Louisiana |
| Agency | Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services | Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) |
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level | 138% of the federal poverty level |
Monthly income limits by household size: Virginia vs Louisiana
| Household size | Virginia | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1,836 | $1,836 |
| 2 people | $2,489 | $2,489 |
| 3 people | $3,142 | $3,142 |
| 4 people | $3,795 | $3,795 |
| 5 people | $4,449 | $4,449 |
| 6 people | $5,102 | $5,102 |
Limits for adults, computed from each state's published % of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines and rounded up to the dollar. Children, pregnancy, and 65+/disability rules differ; each state's own chart controls and may still show 2025 figures. Full tables: Virginia · Louisiana · 2026 poverty guidelines.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Virginia → Louisiana checklistCommon questions
Can I use my Virginia Medicaid in Louisiana while I wait?
Generally no. Virginia Medicaid only pays providers for Virginia residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Louisiana, you need Louisiana coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Louisiana?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Louisiana's income and category rules from the day you become a resident. The application itself takes up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed).
Can I have Medicaid in two states at once?
No. You can only receive Medicaid from the state where you live. Keeping an old case open while opening a new one can create repayment problems — close the Virginia case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Louisiana?
Through Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Louisiana to Virginia Medicaid
- Medicaid in Virginia: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Louisiana: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- Virginia to Connecticut Medicaid
- Virginia to Georgia Medicaid
- Virginia to Wisconsin Medicaid
- Virginia to Arizona Medicaid
Other benefits on the same move
- SNAP: Virginia to Louisiana
- WIC: Virginia to Louisiana
- Unemployment: Virginia to Louisiana
- TANF: Virginia to Louisiana
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Medicaid expansion · Retroactive Medicaid coverage
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- Cover Virginia (DMAS) — Adults 19-64 — accessed 2026-08-08
- CommonHelp — apply for Virginia assistance online — accessed 2026-08-08
- LDH — Medicaid — accessed 2026-08-08
- LDH — Medicaid Self-Service Portal (how to apply) — accessed 2026-08-08