How To Find the Best Health Insurance in Kansas
 Written by Preston Micalizio Preston MicalizioPreston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing ... Read more |  Edited by Dan MarticioDan MarticioDan Marticio is the content manager at SmartFinancial and has written 150+ articles across multiple insurance verticals.... Read more |
Editorial Standards SmartFinancial Offers Unbiased, Fact-based Information. Our fact-checked articles are intended to educate insurance shoppers so they can make the right buying decisions. Learn More
Shopping around from several carriers can help you find the Kansas health insurance plan that best fits your needs and budget. Comparing prices is critical because health insurance in the "Sunflower State" can be more expensive than the national average, and knowing your choices can help you lower your premium.
Continue reading to learn about health insurance in Kansas, including the cheapest plans, the cost in some of the state's biggest cities and the different kinds of health care available.
|
Key Takeaways
|
On This Page
Is Health Insurance Required in Kansas?
Kansas Health Insurance Rankings
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Kansas?
What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Kansas by City?
Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Kansas?
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Kansas?
What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Kansas?
How To Get Health Insurance in Kansas
FAQs
Is Health Insurance Required in Kansas?
Residents of Kansas are not penalized for not having health insurance as of the 2018 tax year. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), American taxpayers who failed to enroll in a health insurance plan that provided minimum essential health benefits were previously subject to a federal tax penalty. However, this penalty has since been lowered to $0.[1][2]
Kansas Health Insurance Rankings
The Commonwealth Fund ranked Kansas 30th out of 51 in a state-by-state analysis that took a holistic look at the health care systems in each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. Kansas ranked 42nd in income disparity but 26th, the state’s highest score, in healthy lives. When considering all metrics, the state ranked sixth among seven Plains states, which include Minnesota, Missouri and Iowa.[3]
Below is an overview of Kansas’s national rank in each of the dimensions analyzed by the Commonwealth Fund:[3]
|
Dimension |
National Rank |
|---|---|
|
Reproductive & Women’s Health |
27 |
|
Access & Affordability |
27 |
|
Prevention & Treatment |
27 |
|
Avoidable Hospital Use & Cost |
32 |
|
Healthy Lives |
26 |
|
Income Disparity |
42 |
|
Racial & Ethnic Health Equity |
39 |
How Much Does Health Insurance Cost in Kansas?
Marketplace benchmark plans in Kansas cost $513 per month on average, more expensive than the nationwide average of $497 per month. On average, Kansas residents pay a monthly premium of $395 for the lowest-cost bronze plan available in the state, $508 for the lowest-cost silver plan and $518 for the lowest-cost gold plan.[4]
Cheapest Health Insurance Options in Kansas
Bronze-tier Kansas health insurance plans from the Marketplace offer the lowest monthly health insurance premiums. Bronze plans can be better for those who are healthy and don't anticipate requiring much medical care because they usually have lower monthly premiums in exchange for higher deductibles, copays and coinsurance.[5] However, you might consider a gold or platinum plan if you expect to use health services frequently throughout the year, as they can save you money on out-of-pocket expenses, although you are charged a higher monthly premium.
You might snag additional savings by choosing a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, which typically features lower monthly payments than other plans like preferred provider organization (PPO) plans. Keep in mind that HMOs usually provide fewer benefits than other PPOs and might not meet all of your health coverage needs. For instance, HMOs often won’t cover non-emergency out-of-network care and usually require a referral from a primary care physician to see a specialist.
What Is the Average Cost of Health Insurance in Kansas by City?
Below, we’ll review the median monthly rates across all metal tiers for health insurance coverage plans available on the Kansas health insurance Marketplace for 30-year-olds making $40,000 annually in five major Kansas cities before considering premium tax credits.[6]
|
City, Zip Code |
Quote |
|---|---|
|
Wichita, 67212 |
$507.57 |
|
Overland Park, 66212 |
$454.68 |
|
Kansas City, 66102 |
$454.68 |
|
Olathe, 66062 |
$454.68 |
|
Topeka, 66614 |
$515.75 |
Which Health Insurance Companies Are the Most Affordable in Kansas?
Oscar offers Kansas's most affordable health insurance plans in the silver tiers. However, other insurers may have similarly low prices or better customer service depending on your age, location and other factors. Below is an overview of Kansas health insurers with silver plan ranges that cost below $800 before premium tax credits for 40-year-old individuals.[7]
|
Health Insurance Company |
Cost Range |
|---|---|
|
$457 to $507 |
|
|
$462 to $664 |
|
|
$488 |
|
|
$511 to $554 |
|
|
$565 to $756 |
When Is Open Enrollment for Health Insurance in Kansas?
During the open enrollment period (November 1 to January 15), residents of Kansas can sign up for a health insurance plan through the Marketplace at Healthcare.gov. Select your health insurance plan by December 15 to ensure your coverage begins on January 1 — otherwise, coverage won’t begin until February 1st.[1][8]
You may be able to enroll outside of the regular open enrollment window if certain qualifying life events trigger a special enrollment period. Special enrollment periods typically last 60 days before or following events like moving, getting married, starting a family, or losing employer-sponsored major medical coverage.[9]
What Types of Health Insurance Are Available in Kansas?
Some of the major types of medical insurance you can purchase in Kansas include the following:
- Marketplace health plans
- Short-term health plans
- Private health insurance coverage directly from health care providers
- Employer-sponsored group health insurance
- Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage
- Medicare
- Medicaid services
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health benefits
- Student health plans
How To Get Health Insurance in Kansas
Examining quotes for health insurance from three to five providers can help you better understand your options in finding a good deal. However, looking up insurance companies one at a time can be tiresome.
Using an insurance marketplace such as SmartFinancial can expedite the process. Once you complete a brief questionnaire, we can connect you with a licensed insurance agent who can assist you in locating reasonably-priced individual or family health insurance plans that meet your needs. Click here to receive a free quote for a Kansas health insurance plan!
- Insurance quotes /
- Health /
- Kansas
Preston Micalizio writes insurance content for SmartFinancial. He brings three years of professional experience writing in various industries, from higher education to e-commerce. He strives to engage with the audience, provide accurate reporting and make complex subjects easily digestible.
Get a Free Health Insurance Quote Online Now.
More on Health Insurance
Looking for Health Insurance?
Compare rates from dozens of companies in less than 3 minutes.