Residents of the Sunflower State have plenty of health care options. According to a study by US News, Kansas has the 30th best health care in the nation when it comes to access, quality, and good public health.
Health insurance options in Kansas
Kansas residents can get health insurance through several options:
Employer-provided
- From your employer
- Through your spouse's employer
Individual or family plans
- Through HealthCare.gov
- Directly from a health insurance company
Government-assisted
- Medicare
- Medicaid
Where do most Kansas residents get their health insurance coverage?
| Sources | Percent | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-Provided | 55% | ||
| Individual or family | 6% | ||
| Medicaid | 14% | ||
| Medicare | 14% | ||
| Military | 2% | ||
| Uninsured | 9% | ||
| Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population | |||
Nine percent of KS residents are uninsured, about the same as the national average. That’s good news for policyholders, as the more uninsured people there are, the higher rates are for insured people.
Kansas health insurance costs and rate factors
Kansas residents spend an average of $7,651 per year on health care expenditures, less than the national average. What influences health insurance prices in Kansas? Rates vary person to person, but are based primarily on these factors:
Plan type
Marketplace plans come in metal tiers: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum. If you want more coverage, expect a higher monthly premium.
How much is health insurance in Kansas? These are the monthly premiums for a middle-aged resident in Kansas in 2020:
| Bronze | Silver | Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $372 | $496 | $497 | |
| Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, Change in Average Marketplace Premiums by Metal Tier | |||
Gold plans cost about 34 percent more than bronze plans. However, in Kansas, gold plans actually cost about the same as silver plans. Why? Insurance prices were scrambled after the government ended certain subsidies. To make up for these changes, insurers increased the price of silver plans.
That means KS residents can buy more coverage for low monthly premiums. Gold plans cover 80 percent of medical costs, whereas bronze plans cover 60 percent of costs. Depending on upcoming legislation, these prices could change.
You may also qualify for a catastrophic plan, the lowest level of coverage available in a marketplace. These plans have low monthly premiums, but a yearly deductible of $8,150. It will save you money to buy a gold or bronze plan if you need to use your insurance.
Body mass index
Insurance companies analyze your body mass to determine your risk-level. That’s because, according to the CDC, a high body mass often leads to serious health conditions. As a result, people with a high BMI pay higher insurance rates.
In 2018, Kansas had a 35.2 percent obesity rate, the 12th highest rate in the country. Out of the many state residents who used QuoteWizard to compare health insurance plans, 35 percent have a BMI in the obese range.
Tobacco use
Smokers tend to pay more for health insurance due to the significant risks from smoking. About 17.2 percent of Kansas residents are smokers, the 26th lowest rate in the country.
Age
According to HealthCare.gov, older people tend to pay up to three times more for health care than younger people. Kansas residents who used QuoteWizard to shop for health insurance are, on average, 40 years old.
Location
Many people don’t know that their zip code plays a big role in how much they’ll be paying monthly. That’s because every state has different health care rules, regulations, and providers.
Health insurance rates are also community-rated, so your costs partly depend on the combined claims everyone files. If your community files an abnormally high number of claims, your prices could rise.
That also means that living in a health-conscious state could lead to lower monthly premiums. According to America’s Health Rankings, Kansas is the 25th healthiest state in the nation.
Kansas health insurance companies
What are the best health insurance companies in Kansas? These companies offer both individual and family plans in the Sunflower State:
- BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas
- Cigna
- Medica
- Oscar
- Sunflower Health Plan
Kansas health insurance laws
The Affordable Care Act limits what insurers can use to determine your health insurance costs.
- Pre-existing conditions: The ACA mandates that insurance companies can’t use knowledge of pre-existing conditions to charge you more. People with pre-existing conditions used to face steep premiums, if they could get coverage to begin with.
- Gender: The ACA doesn’t allow insurance companies to charge women and men different prices for the same plan. That’s good news, especially since women historically pay more for health care.
- Insurance and medical history: Insurance companies also used to analyze your past insurance and medical history to boost your costs. Now, the ACA limits providers from doing that.
There’s a limit to how much you’ll be paying out-of-pocket for a marketplace plan. In 2020, the out-of-pocket maximum is $8,150 for an individual plan and $16,300 for a family plan.
Kansas law requires health insurance companies to provide at least some coverage for the following services:
- Cancer screenings
- Breast reconstruction
- Off-label prescription drugs
- Mental health services
- Emergency services
- Diabetes mandate
- Inpatient care following childbirth
There are additional services that providers need to offer coverage for. Find the complete list on cms.gov.
Medicare and Medicaid in Kansas
Medicare and Medicaid are both health care aid programs funded by the US government. Medicare aids seniors, while Medicaid helps low-income families and children.
Medicare
Medicare aids seniors 65 and older. There are several coverage options within the Medicare program, including parts A, B, C, D, and supplemental coverage plans. As a KS resident, you may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program with these income limits:
- Individual monthly income limit: $1,456
- Married couple monthly income limit: $1,960
Medicaid
Medicaid, called KanCare in your state, is for low-income families and children. These are the state’s Medicaid financial requirements:
| Household Size | Maximum Yearly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $16,971 |
| 2 | $22,930 |
| 3 | $28,888 |
| 4 | $34,846 |
| 5 | $40,805 |
| 6 | $46,763 |
| 7 | $52,722 |
| 8 | $58,680 |
Kansas Insurance Department
- Website:
- Homepage
- Insurance Commissioner:
- Ken Selzer, CPA
- Insurance Hotline:
- (800) 432 - 2484
- Office Hours:
- Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- File a Consumer Insurance Complaint
- Complaint Page
Sources:
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