Medicaid in Kansas
Kansas has not expanded Medicaid. The state's Medicaid program, KanCare, covers traditional Medicaid populations: children, pregnant women (up to 171% FPL), parents with very low incomes (about 38% FPL, or roughly $10,400 per year for a family of three), the elderly, and people with disabilities. Childless adults do not qualify for Medicaid at any income level.
This creates the coverage gap. An estimated 65,000 to 80,000 Kansans earn too much for KanCare but too little to qualify for marketplace subsidies (which start at 100% FPL in non-expansion states). A single adult earning less than $15,960 per year (100% FPL for 2027 coverage) falls in this gap: no Medicaid eligibility and no affordable marketplace option.
Kansas's overall uninsured rate is about 8%, with roughly 230,000 residents lacking health insurance. The uninsured rate is higher in rural western Kansas and among agricultural workers.
Medicaid expansion has been debated in the Kansas legislature repeatedly. Governor Laura Kelly has supported expansion, and some Republican legislators have backed bipartisan proposals. Hospital associations and rural healthcare advocates have pushed hard for expansion, noting that rural hospital closures in Kansas are partly linked to uncompensated care. Despite this support, expansion legislation has not passed.
What plans cost in 2027
Benchmark premiums rose in most of Kansas for 2027. Here is the benchmark (second-lowest cost Silver) premium for a 40-year-old before subsidies, from HealthCare.gov plan data:
- Johnson County (Kansas City metro): about $677 per month, up from $579 in 2026
- Sedgwick County (Wichita): about $796, up from $696
- Shawnee County (Topeka): about $648, down from $697
- Ellis County (Hays): about $954, up from $746
Western Kansas tends to cost more because of fewer hospitals and higher costs of care. Your price depends on your age, county, tobacco use, and the plan you pick.
About 193,000 Kansans picked a marketplace plan during 2026 open enrollment, according to CMS. The enhanced premium tax credits expired after 2025 and were not renewed. For 2027, people above 400% FPL ($63,840 for an individual, $132,000 for a family of four) get no premium tax credit. That hurts in Kansas, where many middle-class families earn just above this line.
Carriers in Kansas (2027)
Five insurance companies offer individual marketplace plans in Kansas for 2027. Medica, which sold plans in 2026, left the Kansas marketplace, so Medica enrollees need to pick a new plan:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansasoffers plans in 103 of the state's 105 counties, everywhere except the two Kansas City metro counties served by Blue KC. BCBS of Kansas has the broadest provider network in greater Kansas, including regional hospitals, the University of Kansas Health System (for referrals), and most rural providers. For Kansans outside the KC metro, BCBS is often the primary option.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City(Blue KC) serves the two Kansas City metro counties on the Kansas side (Johnson and Wyandotte). Blue KC's network includes the University of Kansas Health System, AdventHealth, and other KC-area hospitals.
- Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan (a Centene subsidiary) sells plans in 91 counties for 2027 and is often among the lowest-cost options. Networks are narrower than BCBS but include major facilities in the metro areas.
- UnitedHealthcare sells plans in 104 of 105 counties for 2027, so most Kansans can compare it against the Blue plan in their area.
- Oscar Health sells plans in 16 counties for 2027, including Johnson and Shawnee counties.
Johnson County and Shawnee County each have four insurers for 2027. Wichita and much of western Kansas have three: BCBS of Kansas, Ambetter, and UnitedHealthcare.
Key regions
Kansas City metro (Johnson, Wyandotte counties)
The Kansas side of the KC metro has the best insurance competition in the state. The University of Kansas Health System is the state's only academic medical center and the referral destination for complex care. Children's Mercy Kansas City is a top pediatric hospital. AdventHealth (formerly Shawnee Mission) and Overland Park Regional Medical Center are major community hospitals. Residents here benefit from proximity to Missouri-side facilities as well, though cross-state network coverage varies by plan.
Wichita
Sedgwick County (Wichita) is the state's largest city and the healthcare hub for south-central Kansas. Ascension Via Christi and Wesley Medical Center are the primary hospital systems. The University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita campus provides academic medical resources. Sedgwick County has three marketplace insurers for 2027.
Topeka
Stormont Vail Health and the University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus are the main Topeka facilities. Shawnee County has four marketplace insurers for 2027, and it is one of the few places in Kansas where the benchmark premium went down for 2027.
Western and rural Kansas
Western Kansas faces serious healthcare access challenges. Multiple rural hospitals have closed or reduced services. Hays Medical Center is the largest facility in northwest Kansas. Many residents drive one to two hours for specialty care, often heading to Wichita or Kansas City. Ellis County (Hays) has three insurers for 2027, but premiums are among the highest in the state. The coverage gap from non-expansion hits rural communities particularly hard, as many agricultural and service workers earn too little for marketplace subsidies.
Estimate your subsidy
Subsidy Estimator
Enter your info below to get a rough estimate of your monthly premium tax credit for a 2027 marketplace plan.
Kansas-specific things to know
The coverage gap is real. If you earn less than about $15,960 per year (100% FPL for a single person) and do not qualify for KanCare through a traditional category (disability, pregnancy, dependent children), there is no affordable health coverage option available. Community health centers offer sliding-scale care, and some hospitals have charity care programs, but these are not insurance. Kansas has a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that serve uninsured patients.
Rural hospital closures affect everyone. When a rural hospital closes, the remaining residents must travel further for emergency and inpatient care. This increases response times for emergencies and makes it harder to attract and retain other healthcare providers in the area. If you live in a rural area, confirm that your plan has adequate emergency and hospital coverage within a reasonable distance.
Kansas Insurance Department offers consumer help. The Kansas Insurance Department has a consumer assistance division that can help with insurance questions, complaints, and enrollment issues. Free navigator assistance is also available through community organizations across the state.
Resources
- HealthCare.gov for marketplace enrollment (Kansas uses the federal marketplace)
- KanCare (Kansas Medicaid) for Medicaid eligibility and enrollment
- Kansas Insurance Department for consumer assistance and plan information