How to check an insurance agent's license in Louisiana

Look the agent up in Louisiana

1. 1

   Ask for their full name and NPN

   Every licensed agent has a National Producer Number. A real agent will give it to you without hesitation.
2. 2

   Open the Louisiana Department of Insurance's license lookup

   Louisiana agent license lookup. It's the official lookup from the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Choose "Name or Location" to search by the agent's name, or "License Information or Location" to search by license number or NPN.

3. 3

   Check four things

   The status is active, the license is for Louisiana (resident or nonresident), it includes a health line of authority, and it hasn't expired.

What the results mean

Active

The license is current. This is what you want to see.

Inactive, expired or lapsed

The agent can't legally sell insurance in the state right now. Don't enroll through them.

Resident or nonresident

Resident means their home office is in Louisiana. Nonresident means they're based in another state and licensed to work here. Both are fine.

Line of authority

The kinds of insurance they can sell. For Medicare plans, look for Health or Accident & Health. Life-only isn't enough.

Regulatory or disciplinary actions

Some lookups list fines or other actions. One old, small action may not mean much; several, or a revoked license, is a reason to look elsewhere.

Extra steps for Medicare plans

A state license is the first check. For Medicare plans, two more things apply:

• Appointment: the agent must be appointed by the insurance company whose plan you're choosing. Ask which companies they represent in Louisiana.
• Yearly certification: agents who sell Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans must complete each plan's training and testing every year.

Agents who sell for more than one company must also tell you, before discussing any plan's benefits, how many companies and plans they represent in your area. None of them works for Medicare.

Switching Medigap plans in Louisiana

Birthday rule. For 63 days starting on your birthday, you can switch to equal or lesser benefits with your same insurer or an affiliate, with no health questions.

This applies to people who already have a Medicare Supplement policy. See every state's Medigap switching rule.

Medigap if you're under 65 in Louisiana

Required. In Louisiana, if you are under 65 and on Medicare (for a disability or kidney failure), you can buy any Medigap plan an insurer sells, with no health questions, if you apply within 6 months after your Part B starts.

If you have Part B when you turn 65, you get a new 6-month Medigap open enrollment then. See every state's rule for people under 65.

If something looks wrong

• License not found or inactive: don't share your Medicare or Social Security number, and contact the Louisiana Department of Insurance at 1-800-259-5300. You can also file a complaint online.
• Someone claiming to be from Medicare: hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).
• A listing on this site looks wrong: report it and we'll look into it.

Free, unbiased help in Louisiana: LaSHIP

Every state has a free Medicare counseling program. In Louisiana it's the Louisiana Senior Health Information Program (LaSHIP), part of the national State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) network. Its counselors are trained, don't sell anything, and can help you compare your options or check what an agent told you, for free.

Common questions

Nearby states

Agents often work across state lines. Check that they're licensed in the state where you live.

• Check a license in Arkansas
• Check a license in Mississippi
• Check a license in Texas
• All states

Keep reading

• How to choose a local Medicare agentQuestions to ask, warning signs, and the dates to know.
• Medicare agent vs. broker: what's the difference?Agent, broker, producer: what the words mean, the one difference that really matters (how many companies they work with), and how to tell before you meet.