Louisiana Medicaid Look-Back Period

Last updated: August 21, 2026 Jurisdiction: Louisiana

Louisiana applies a five-year transfer review

LDH states that the look-back period for an institutionalized individual is the 60 months before applying for Medicaid. Its transfer policy directs the agency to evaluate income or resources transferred during or after that period to decide whether fair market value was received in exchange (LDH I-1670 transfer policy).

The policy applies to a person applying for or receiving LTC or an HCBS waiver, and also addresses transfers by that person's spouse. It is not a gift-tax calculation: a transaction may affect payment for long-term-care services where fair market value was not received and no policy exception or successful rebuttal applies (LDH I-1670 transfer policy).

LDH specifically describes the baseline date as 60 months, or five years, before applying for Medicaid and directs workers to explore uncompensated transfers during that period before an institutional-coverage application and thereafter. The actual timing of the penalty depends on the policy's eligibility and service requirements, not only on the date a family signed a deed or gave money away (LDH I-1670 transfer policy).

The published divisor is $7,200 per month

LDH's transfer policy says that for applications received on or after September 1, 2024, the average monthly private-pay nursing-facility rate used as the transfer-penalty divisor is $7,200, or $236.71 per day. The manual was reissued October 21, 2025 and retained that figure, making it the latest published Louisiana divisor located for this page rather than a guessed 2026 update (LDH I-1670 transfer policy).

LDH explains that the uncompensated value is the difference between the fair market value at transfer, adjusted for outstanding loans, and the amount actually received. Partial-month penalties can apply, and multiple transfers can be combined under the policy, so a quick division is not a substitute for reviewing every transaction and the live manual (LDH I-1670 transfer policy).

Exceptions and hardship require proof

Louisiana's Medicaid State Plan says an undue-hardship waiver process exists where application of a transfer penalty would deprive the individual of medical care that endangers health or life, or of food, clothing, shelter, or other necessities. The State Plan describes referral to state staff, notice of the decision, and appeal rights (Louisiana Medicaid State Plan, transfer of assets).

Families should retain appraisals, bank records, written agreements, proof of services, and payment records. LDH's policy gives particular requirements for personal-care agreements, including a written agreement before services and evidence that services and payments were actually made under it (LDH I-1670 transfer policy).

Look-back: 60 months. Latest located divisor: $7,200 monthly for applications on or after September 1, 2024. Confirm the current divisor before relying on any calculation.

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Louisiana applies a five-year transfer review

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