Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Louisiana program

Keeping group coverage after a qualifying change (Louisiana continuation)

Louisiana continuation can extend existing group health coverage after certain qualifying events.

What it is

Louisiana continuation can extend existing group health coverage after certain qualifying events.

Keeping group coverage can help preserve a familiar treatment network when coverage would otherwise end. Louisiana continuation has its own eligibility, election and payment rules. A work change alone does not establish a coverage loss or start its deadline.

Eligibility rules
  • You need three consecutive months of coverage immediately before termination. Coverage under a replaced group policy counts.
  • This is for group policies bought from an insurer. If federal COBRA applies to your employer, or the employer pays its own claims, this state route does not.
What you get
  • Up to 12 months of the group health coverage that would otherwise end.
  • Coverage for dependents already on the policy.
What the help covers
  • The continued benefits include hospital, surgical and major medical coverage. The contribution is paid in advance.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask the employer’s benefits office for the Louisiana continuation form, contribution and written deadline.
  2. Have the coverage-end or qualifying-event notice, policy number and proof of prior enrollment ready.
  3. If you choose this route, send the written election and first advance payment to the employer or policyholder.

The employer or group policyholder, and the insurer

After you apply
  • Coverage continues from when the original coverage would otherwise end once election and payment requirements are met.
  • Your written election and first payment are due by the end of the month after coverage ends. You pay no more than the full group rate, monthly. Coverage lasts up to 12 months, or ends sooner if you stop paying or other group coverage becomes available.
Good to know

The actual qualifying event starts the deadline. The benefits office must confirm that event and the coverage dates before calculating an election deadline.

Other details
  • Federal COBRA and Marketplace enrollment have different requirements and deadlines. A familiar network may cost more than another option.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“If work coverage ends, could Louisiana continuation protect my child’s treatment? Could you help compare the cost and tradeoffs with COBRA and other insurance before we choose?”

Why I’m asking: I want to avoid a treatment gap while understanding how much continued coverage would cost.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Written election and the first advance payment are due by the end of the month following the qualifying event; divorce uses the judgment date. Ask the benefits office to confirm the actual event and coverage dates before calculating the deadline.

Your social worker

The benefits office gives you the form and the deadline in writing.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The employer or group policyholder administers it; the insurer continues the cover.
Ask HR
“I want to continue this group coverage under Louisiana law. What is the election form, what is the monthly contribution, and what is the exact last date to elect and pay?”

How to apply

First step: Ask the benefits office whether the actual event qualifies, and request the election form, premium and written deadline.

  1. Ask the benefits office whether the actual event qualifies, and request the election form, premium and written deadline.
  2. Compare continuation with other coverage, including each option’s eligibility, enrollment deadline, doctors, medicines and cost.

Where it starts: Send the written election and the first payment to the policyholder or employer before the deadline.

What to gather

  • The termination date in writing
  • The plan name, policy number and monthly contribution

How long: Cover continues from the date the old cover would have stopped, once the election and first payment are in.

Clock: Louisiana gives you until the end of the month after the month the job ended to elect continuation in writing and pay the first contribution in advance.

What a yes looks like

Written confirmation that cover continues, with the monthly amount and the end date.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Ask which eligibility or plan-scope rule prevents continuation and have the benefits office review other coverage and its deadlines.

Watch out

  • Written election and the first advance payment are due by the end of the month following the qualifying event; divorce uses the judgment date. Ask the benefits office to confirm the actual event and coverage dates before calculating the deadline.
  • You need three straight months on the plan before it ended.
  • Qualifying Louisiana group hospital, surgical or major-medical coverage can continue after employment or membership loss, death or divorce. Three consecutive months of prior coverage are required, including a replaced policy. Federal COBRA eligibility, certain similar group coverage or eligibility within 31 days, fraud and failure to pay required premiums can exclude this route. A private employer’s self-funded ERISA plan is generally outside the state mandate; government or church arrangements require a separate scope review.

If they say no, quote this: R.S. 22:1046: written election and first advance payment are due by the end of the month after the qualifying event. The benefits office confirms the event and coverage dates.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Up to twelve months of the same group coverage after the job ends, if you elect it and pay in time.

  • $3 — Months of prior continuous group coverage required
  • $12 — Maximum months of continuation

Legal protection: Hospital, surgical and major medical coverage continues for the employee and any dependants already on the policy · Up to twelve months from the date coverage would otherwise have ended

What it costs the family: Advance payments of no more than the full group premium, with installments allowed at least monthly. The administrator confirms any grace period; COBRA payment rules do not automatically apply.

The eligibility facts, as published

Prior coverage
three consecutive months immediately before termination, counting a group policy it replaced
Election deadline
written election and first advance payment by the end of the month following the month of the triggering event
Maximum
twelve months, with earlier statutory end points
Plan scope
Qualifying Louisiana group hospital, surgical or major-medical coverage can continue after employment or membership loss, death or divorce. Three consecutive months of prior coverage are required, including a replaced policy. Federal COBRA eligibility, certain similar group coverage or eligibility within 31 days, fraud and failure to pay required premiums can exclude this route. A private employer’s self-funded ERISA plan is generally outside the state mandate; government or church arrangements require a separate scope review.
Statute refs
R.S. 22:1046

The trap: Written election and the first advance payment are due by the end of the month following the qualifying event; divorce uses the judgment date. Ask the benefits office to confirm the actual event and coverage dates before calculating the deadline.

Where I read this

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