Can a spouse be paid?
YesYes — Louisiana can pay you to care for your spouse.
The fine print: yes — MIHC allows a live-in spouse or adult child as the paid caregiver
Free toolSee what Louisiana pays →
Get paid as a family caregiver in Louisiana
Louisiana runs real Medicaid programs that pay family members to care for a loved one at home. Here is what they pay, who can be paid, and how to start.
Louisiana at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 814,500
- Counties
- 64
- Programs
- 3
- Spouse pay
- Yes
18% of the state
each with its own page
that can pay a relative
see the full rule below
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
What Louisiana pays family caregivers
$1,800/month
Rates vary — check with the program.
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Louisiana Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Waitlist in Louisiana
No waitlist. If you qualify, you're in.
not an entitlement — waitlist via the CCW Request for Services Registry when slots are full
The two big questions
Can a parent be paid for a child?
SometimesSometimes — special programs for children may pay parents.
The fine print: limited — not under CCW (serves adults 65+ or 21+ with disabilities); parents of minors payable under Children's Choice/New Opportunities DD waivers, 40 hrs/wk cap, cannot also be the employer/representative
Louisiana's programs
Run by: Louisiana Dept. of Health — Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS)
Community Choices Waiver
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →Monitored In-Home Caregiving (MIHC)
A program that can pay a family member for care at home.
2-min check →Children's Choice Waiver
A path for children who need extra care.
2-min check →How to apply in Louisiana
Check your match — 2 minutes, free.
Our quick check tells you which programs fit your family before you talk to anyone.
Start the state application.
Call Louisiana Options in Long Term Care at 877-456-1146 to request CCW services and be placed on the registry; OAAS handles level-of-care screening.
We help at every step.
Forms, phone calls, the enrollment visit — we walk you through it all, free.
Louisiana questions, answered honestly
Is this legit?
Yes. These are real Medicaid programs run by the state. In Louisiana, they are overseen by the Louisiana Dept. of Health — Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS). We help you enroll — applying costs you nothing.
Why would the government pay me?
Care at home costs Medicaid far less than a nursing home. So states pay family members to give that care at home. It's good for your loved one, and it's the law working the way it should.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Louisiana?
Yes — Louisiana can pay you to care for your spouse. The fine print: yes — MIHC allows a live-in spouse or adult child as the paid caregiver
Can I get paid to care for my child in Louisiana?
Sometimes — special programs for children may pay parents. The fine print: limited — not under CCW (serves adults 65+ or 21+ with disabilities); parents of minors payable under Children's Choice/New Opportunities DD waivers, 40 hrs/wk cap, cannot also be the employer/representative
How much do family caregivers get paid in Louisiana?
Reported figures are around $1,800/month, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Is there a waitlist?
No waitlist. If you qualify, you're in. Details: not an entitlement — waitlist via the CCW Request for Services Registry when slots are full
Do I have to work for an agency?
It depends on the program. In Louisiana: MIHC runs through an enrolled MIHC provider agency (care manager + nurse support, agency pays the stipend); consumer-directed option uses a financial management services agency for payroll
Sources: medicaidplanningassistance.org · ldh.la.gov · law.cornell.edu · Updated September 2026. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Browse Louisiana by county
The programs are the same across Louisiana. Pick your county to see how they work where you live.
- East Baton Rouge
- Jefferson
- Orleans
- St. Tammany
- Lafayette
- Caddo
- Calcasieu
- Ouachita
- Livingston
- Tangipahoa
- Ascension
- Bossier
- Rapides
- Terrebonne
- Lafourche
- St. Landry
- Iberia
- Vermilion
- Acadia
- St. Martin
- St. Charles
- Lincoln
- St. Mary
- Vernon
- Washington
- St. Bernard
- St. John the Baptist
- Avoyelles
- Beauregard
- Natchitoches
- Webster
- Evangeline
- Jefferson Davis
- Iberville
- West Baton Rouge
- De Soto
- Morehouse
- Allen
- Plaquemines
- Grant
- Sabine
- Union
- Assumption
- Pointe Coupee
- Richland
- East Feliciana
- St. James
- Franklin
- Concordia
- West Feliciana
- Jackson
- LaSalle
- Claiborne
- Winn
- Bienville
- St. Helena
- Caldwell
- West Carroll
- Madison
- Catahoula
- Red River
- East Carroll
- Cameron
- Tensas
Guides
For Louisiana families
Start with the Louisiana caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Across the line
States that border Louisiana
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.