Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can complete a LA HAP application online or complete a paper application and send via mail or fax. You can apply online here or find the paper application here. Both application type links and additional information about applying for LA HAP can be found at www.lahap.org/apply.

Your case manager can certainly help you set up your account and help you fill out your application, but the account belongs to you and only you.   A case manager cannot submit an application on your behalf except in very rare circumstances (for example: if you were incapacitated in the hospital or in jail).

The advantage of this is that you will know exactly what’s been submitted to LA HAP and where your application is in the review process.  You can always call LA HAP at 504-568-7474 if you have questions as you are filling out the application.

Here are the types of documentation you may be asked to provide on the LA HAP application:

• Proof of your Louisiana residency (once a year)
• Proof of your income and the income of everyone else in your household (once a year)
• If you are asking for premium assistance for the first time, or for a new plan, or if the premium amount has recently changed: Documentation of the premium amount
• If you have Medicare and your household income is below 150% FPIG: Documentation of your Low Income Subsidy status (that you are receiving LIS, or that you have applied and/or were denied in the past 12 months) (once a year)

At any time during the year, you can log into your account and update your information.

If you don’t use the online portal, you can report changes in information or insurance by calling the LA HAP office to notify staff of changes. If documentation is needed based on those changes LA HAP staff will request you send that in via mail or fax.

It’s a federal law that all LA HAP clients must recertify every 12 months.  But, this is easier to do with the online application because the information you enter during one recertification will be saved in your account to be used next time.  You will still be asked to review your information each time and update anything that has been changed.

LA HAP sends out recertification packets 6 weeks before your LA HAP eligibility will end. These arrive via mail to the mailing address on file. If you applied online you will also receeive email notifications from LA HAP reminding you it’s time to recertify. Also, please see your most recent LA HAP card which includes your LA HAP eligibility end date. It’s always important to recertify before your eligibility ends to help ensure you won’t have a gap in coverage.

For online application submissions, the system will not allow you to submit your application until it is complete. This is meant to prevent delays in processing your applications.

For online application submissions, if LA HAP staff need to follow up on anything in your application, they will send you a secure message in the portal. For applications submitted via mail or fax LA HAP will follow up with you or your case manager for missing information or documentation.

You must visit a pharmacy in the LA HAP network. Please visit the pharmacy locator on Ramsell’s website for either insured or uninsured network. For example, type in the city or zip code for your area to locate pharmacies near you. If you have insurance you must also visit a pharmacy in your insurance company’s network.

The LA HAP program has two parts: L-DAP & HIP. L-DAP. L-DAP (Louisiana Drug Assistance Program) covers drug costs for uninsured clients and drug copays for insured clients. HIP (Health Insurance Program) covers insurance plan costs including premiums, non-drug copays, coinsurance, & deductibles for insured individuals.

Please see the section of the LA HAP website homepage: “What is LA HAP” for additional information”.

Make sure you read our Guide for Insured Members carefully (or our Guide for Uninsured Members, if you don’t have insurance).  The most important thing you can do to avoid a bill is to make sure you contact your provider before your visit and let them know that you are enrolled in a secondary payer program known as the Health Insurance Program that can pay co-pays, coinsurance and deductibles on your behalf.  HIP cannot reimburse you for anything you pay yourself.

Some providers send bills to HIP directly, and others will send them to you.  If you receive a bill, you can forward it onto HIP along with the Explanation of Benefits that you get from your insurance company.  You can fax these documents to HIP at 225-927-1267 or mail them to: PO Box 66913, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.

There are thousands of doctors in Louisiana, and LA HAP is a small program- not all doctors understand how it works.  LA HAP is not an insurance company, so they don’t have a “provider network” like an insurance company does.  HIP will work with any provider who chooses to work with them.  This page has information for medical providers on how the program works and also a copy of the HIP Medical Provider Packet.  This packet is a useful tool to send to providers to explain how the program works.

You can also call HIP at 225-424-1799 and ask them to contact your provider for you to explain the program.  Unfortunately not every provider agrees to work with HIP, but most do.

Make sure you read our Member Guide thoroughly: We have one for Insured Members and one for Uninsured Members.

LA HAP is rarely able to pay clients Medicare Part B premiums. By law, clients who receive Medicare beneficiaries have Medicare Part B premiums taken directly from their Social Security check. Premiums can only be covered if the premium is not deducted from their Social Security award and client must provide an invoice showing the Part B premium is not deducted from their Social Security check.