Kansas Health Insurance for Self-Employed People, Farmers and Families
Looking for health insurance in Kansas? We help self-employed people, 1099 workers, farmers, families and small business owners compare Marketplace and private health insurance options based on their budget, doctors, prescriptions and coverage needs.
Kansas health insurance is changing for 2027. Medica is leaving the Kansas individual market, every continuing Marketplace insurer has requested a rate increase, and plan availability and provider networks can vary significantly depending on your county.
1099 Health Insurance is licensed to help clients in Kansas. Most consultations are completed by phone and screen-share, so we can review plans together wherever you live in the state.
Kansas Health Insurance at a Glance for 2027
| Kansas Health Insurance Marketplace | HealthCare.gov |
|---|---|
| 2027 Open Enrollment | November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 |
| January 1 coverage deadline | Enroll or switch plans by December 15, 2026 |
| Current 2027 Marketplace filings | Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare |
| Leaving for 2027 | Medica is leaving Kansas's individual Marketplace after 2026, primarily affecting members in the Kansas City area. |
| Proposed 2027 rate changes | Approximately +15.4% to +34.81% among the major continuing Marketplace insurers. |
| Medicaid expansion | Kansas has not adopted full ACA Medicaid expansion. |
| Kansas Medicaid | KanCare covers eligible children, pregnant people, certain parents and caregivers, seniors and people with disabilities. |
| Farm Bureau Health Plans | Kansas Farm Bureau membership health plans are available to members and use medical underwriting. Traditional plans do not meet ACA minimum essential coverage requirements. |
| Private health insurance | Other private coverage outside the Marketplace may also be available depending on the product and applicant eligibility. |
What's Changing for Kansas Health Insurance in 2027?
Medica is leaving the Kansas individual Marketplace
Medica will stop offering individual Marketplace coverage in Kansas beginning January 1, 2027.
The change affects approximately 600 members, primarily in the Kansas City area.
If you currently have Medica coverage, compare replacement plans during Open Enrollment rather than assuming another plan will include the same doctors, hospitals and prescriptions.
Every continuing Marketplace insurer has requested a rate increase
Current 2027 filings show proposed average increases ranging from roughly 15% to nearly 35%, depending on the insurance company.
| Insurance Company | Proposed Average 2027 Change | Approximate Enrollment Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City | +15.4% | 2,685 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas | +15.68% | 19,157 |
| Ambetter / Celtic Insurance Company | +16.7% | 90,836 |
| Oscar | +20.0% | 13,410 |
| UnitedHealthcare | +34.81% | 22,178 |
| Medica | Leaving Kansas's individual Marketplace for 2027 | |
These figures are proposed average changes before Marketplace financial assistance. They do not mean your personal premium will change by exactly the same percentage.
Your actual premium depends on your age, ZIP code, plan choice, household and eligibility for a Premium Tax Credit.
The Kansas Department of Insurance reviews rate filings, so final rates can differ from the amounts originally requested.
UnitedHealthcare's requested increase stands out
UnitedHealthcare's current filing requests an average increase of approximately 34.81%, with changes varying by plan.
If you currently have UnitedHealthcare individual coverage, compare the 2027 renewal against the other plans available in your county rather than automatically renewing.
Kansas Has Two Different Blue Cross Companies
One point that can confuse Kansas consumers is that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are separate companies.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City primarily serves the Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas serves much of the remainder of the state.
The companies can have different premiums, provider networks, plan designs and service areas.
That's another reason we start with your ZIP code rather than assuming a particular Blue Cross plan is available everywhere.
Marketplace Financial Assistance in Kansas
Eligible Kansas residents can receive federal Premium Tax Credits when enrolling in qualified Marketplace coverage through HealthCare.gov.
Under current federal rules, Premium Tax Credits generally apply to otherwise eligible households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
Marketplace savings depend on your expected household income, household size and other eligibility rules.
Income can be complicated for farmers and self-employed Kansans
Marketplace financial assistance is based on expected annual household income, not simply gross business or farm revenue.
Farmers and other self-employed people can have income that changes substantially from year to year because of business expenses, seasonal revenue, commodity prices and other factors.
If your income changes significantly during the year, update your Marketplace application.
For questions involving deductions, retirement contributions, HSAs or tax treatment of business income, speak with a qualified tax professional.
KanCare and the Kansas Medicaid Coverage Gap
Kansas has not adopted full ACA Medicaid expansion.
KanCare, the state's Medicaid program, provides coverage to people who meet specific eligibility categories and income requirements.
Eligible groups can include:
- Children
- Pregnant people
- Certain low-income parents and caregivers
- People with qualifying disabilities
- Seniors
Some low-income adults can fall into a coverage gap
Because Kansas has not expanded Medicaid to all low-income adults, some adults can earn too little to qualify for Marketplace Premium Tax Credits but still not qualify for KanCare under Kansas's eligibility categories.
This is commonly called the Medicaid coverage gap.
Children who do not qualify for Medicaid may still qualify for Kansas CHIP depending on household income and other rules.
Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans: What to Know
Kansas also has Farm Bureau membership health plans, which operate differently from ACA Marketplace coverage.
Kansas Farm Bureau membership is required before you can apply.
Medical underwriting is used
Traditional Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans use medical underwriting, which means your health history can affect eligibility and rates.
Some plans also include waiting periods or exclusions related to pre-existing medical conditions.
These plans are not ACA minimum essential coverage
Kansas Farm Bureau states that its Traditional Membership Health Plans do not meet the Affordable Care Act's minimum essential coverage requirements.
Because the rules are different, compare the actual benefits, exclusions, prescription coverage, deductibles and other terms rather than comparing only monthly premiums.
The plans use a national PPO network
Kansas Farm Bureau currently lists UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus as the provider network for its under-65 health plans.
That may be useful to some consumers who need a broader provider network, but network participation should still be checked for the specific doctors and hospitals you use.
Marketplace subsidies cannot be used
Federal Marketplace Premium Tax Credits are only available through HealthCare.gov and cannot be applied to a Kansas Farm Bureau membership health plan.
Health Insurance for Self-Employed Kansans and Farm Families
When you work for yourself, you usually don't have an employer choosing your plan or paying part of the premium.
We help compare more than the monthly price, including:
- Monthly premiums
- Deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs
- Doctor and hospital networks
- Prescription coverage
- Marketplace financial assistance
- KanCare eligibility when applicable
- Farm Bureau health plan differences
- Marketplace versus private health insurance options
We regularly help:
Kansas Health Insurance Options
Marketplace Health Insurance
Kansas uses HealthCare.gov for individual and family Marketplace health insurance.
Marketplace plans cover pre-existing conditions and include the essential health benefits and consumer protections required under federal law.
HealthCare.gov is also where eligible consumers receive federal Premium Tax Credits.
Private Health Insurance
Some Kansas residents may also have private health insurance options outside the Marketplace.
Depending on the product, private plans may use medical underwriting and can have different provider networks, benefits, exclusions, deductibles and eligibility requirements than Marketplace plans.
Marketplace Premium Tax Credits cannot be used to pay for coverage purchased outside HealthCare.gov.
We can help you compare the differences before you apply.
Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans
Kansas Farm Bureau members may have access to medically underwritten membership health plans.
These plans use different rules than ACA Marketplace plans and may have pre-existing-condition waiting periods or exclusions.
Review the contract and benefit limitations carefully before comparing them with Marketplace or other private coverage.
KanCare and CHIP
KanCare provides Medicaid coverage to eligible Kansas residents who fall within qualifying eligibility categories.
Kansas CHIP provides coverage for qualifying children whose household income is too high for Medicaid but within CHIP eligibility limits.
Applications are available throughout the year.
Short-Term Health Insurance
Short-term health insurance may be available in Kansas for temporary coverage needs.
Short-term plans may use medical underwriting, exclude pre-existing conditions and provide different benefits and consumer protections than ACA-compliant Marketplace coverage.
Policy duration and renewal availability depend on current state and federal rules and the insurer's approved products.
Health Sharing Programs
Health sharing memberships may be available, but they are not health insurance.
Payment of medical expenses is not guaranteed in the same way covered benefits are paid under an insurance contract.
Small Business Health Insurance
Kansas employers may have access to traditional group health coverage and other employer health benefit arrangements.
Dental, Vision and Supplemental Coverage
Dental, vision, accident, critical illness and other supplemental products may be available alongside medical coverage.
Individual and Family Coverage
Whether you're buying coverage for yourself, a spouse or your family, we can compare options using your Kansas ZIP code, doctors and prescriptions.
Check Your Kansas Doctors and Hospitals Before Enrolling
Provider networks vary by insurance company, plan and county. Rural areas may have fewer choices than larger metro areas.
Depending on where you live, provider systems you may want to check include:
- The University of Kansas Health System
- AdventHealth Shawnee Mission
- Saint Luke's Health System
- Children's Mercy
- Wesley Medical Center
- Ascension Via Christi
- Stormont Vail Health
Kansas City residents should pay extra attention to networks
If you live in Johnson County, Wyandotte County or another part of the Kansas City metro, some of your doctors or hospitals may be on the Missouri side of the state line.
Don't assume a Kansas plan gives you routine in-network access to every Kansas City-area provider.
During a phone or screen-share consultation, we can help check your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions while comparing the plans you're considering.
Serving All 105 Kansas Counties
We help Kansas residents by phone and screen-share, so you can compare health insurance without traveling to an insurance office.
We work with clients in Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka, Lawrence, Shawnee, Lenexa, Manhattan, Salina, Hutchinson, Garden City and communities throughout Kansas.
We also work with self-employed people and farm families in rural Kansas, where plan availability and hospital networks can differ from the Kansas City, Wichita and Topeka areas.
Your ZIP code is the starting point for determining which plans are actually available to you.
Convenient Kansas Health Insurance Consultations
Most consultations are completed by phone. When it helps to compare plans together, we can use screen-sharing so you can see premiums, deductibles, benefits and provider networks while we discuss your options.
How It Works
Schedule a Call
Pick a convenient time for a phone consultation. If helpful, we can use screen-sharing to review plan information together.
Compare Your Options
We compare plans available in your county, estimated Marketplace financial assistance, provider networks, prescriptions and other coverage options that may fit your situation.
Choose and Apply
If you find an option that works for you, we help with the application and remain available when you have questions after enrollment.
Kansas Health Insurance FAQ
When is Kansas health insurance Open Enrollment for 2027?
Kansas uses HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 Marketplace coverage runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027.
Enroll or change plans by December 15 for coverage beginning January 1. Coverage selected between December 16 and January 15 generally begins February 1.
My Medica health insurance is ending. What should I do?
Medica is leaving Kansas's individual Marketplace after 2026. The change affects approximately 600 members, mostly in the Kansas City area.
Compare replacement coverage during Open Enrollment and check your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions before choosing your new plan.
Which companies are expected to offer Kansas Marketplace plans in 2027?
Current filings include Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare.
Availability varies by county.
How much are Kansas health insurance rates increasing for 2027?
Current proposed average increases range from approximately 15.4% to 34.81% among the major continuing Marketplace insurers.
These are average requested changes before subsidies and do not predict your own premium increase. Final rates can change during the state review process.
Why are there two Blue Cross companies in Kansas?
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City are separate companies with different service areas, provider networks, premiums and plans.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City primarily serves the Kansas City area, while Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas serves much of the rest of the state.
Can self-employed people in Kansas get a Marketplace subsidy?
Yes, if they meet the eligibility requirements. Under current federal rules, Premium Tax Credits generally apply to otherwise eligible households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
Marketplace financial assistance is based on expected annual household income.
Can I choose private health insurance instead of the Marketplace?
Some Kansas residents may have private coverage options outside HealthCare.gov depending on the type of product and eligibility requirements.
Private coverage can use different underwriting, benefits, exclusions and provider networks. Marketplace Premium Tax Credits cannot be used outside HealthCare.gov.
What are Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans?
Kansas Farm Bureau offers membership health plans to eligible Kansas Farm Bureau members.
Traditional plans use medical underwriting and do not meet ACA minimum essential coverage requirements. Some plans can also have waiting periods or exclusions for pre-existing conditions.
Do Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans use a PPO network?
Kansas Farm Bureau currently lists the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network for its under-65 health plans.
Always confirm your specific doctors and hospitals before applying.
Did Kansas expand Medicaid?
No. Kansas has not adopted full ACA Medicaid expansion.
KanCare covers eligible people in specific groups, including children, pregnant people, some parents and caregivers, seniors and people with qualifying disabilities.
What is the Kansas Medicaid coverage gap?
Some adults with incomes below the federal poverty level may not qualify for KanCare but also may not qualify for Marketplace Premium Tax Credits because Kansas has not expanded Medicaid.
Can I buy short-term health insurance in Kansas?
Short-term health insurance may be available in Kansas.
These plans may use medical underwriting, exclude pre-existing conditions and provide different benefits and protections than ACA-compliant Marketplace coverage.
Policy terms and renewal availability depend on current state and federal rules and the insurer's approved products.
Can I get Kansas health insurance outside Open Enrollment?
Marketplace coverage generally requires Open Enrollment or qualification for a Special Enrollment Period following an eligible life event such as losing coverage, marriage, having a baby or certain moves.
KanCare and CHIP applications are available throughout the year for people who qualify.
Can you help check my doctors and prescriptions?
Yes. Have the names of your doctors, specialists, preferred hospitals and medications available during your consultation. We can help check them while reviewing your coverage options.
How do consultations work?
Most consultations are completed by phone. When it is useful to compare plans together, we can use screen-sharing so you can see the coverage information while we discuss it.
Get Help Comparing Kansas Health Insurance
With Medica leaving, proposed rate increases ranging from about 15% to nearly 35%, different Blue Cross service areas and several types of private coverage, 2027 is an important year to compare carefully.
We can help you compare Marketplace and private health insurance options by phone or screen-share.
Kansas Health Insurance Sources
- Kansas Department of Insurance — individual health insurance and 2027 rate filings
- HealthCare.gov — 2027 Open Enrollment dates and Marketplace financial-assistance information
- Federal Health Insurance Rate Review — 2027 Kansas individual-market filings
- KanCare / Kansas Department of Health and Environment — Medicaid and CHIP eligibility
- Kansas Farm Bureau Health Plans — membership, underwriting, plan benefits and provider-network information
