bestMedicare AdvantageKansasBest Kansas Medicare Advantage Plans
Updated: May 6, 2024
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MoneyGeek's research presents you with widely available plans in Kansas with the highest quality ratings based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) five-star quality rating system. We found the best Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas based on your preferred plan type, prescription drug benefits and out-of-pocket costs.
Keep in mind that what is best for you may differ from what is best for others. When considering whether or not a plan is right for you, one thing to check is which hospitals and providers are part of the network. This is important especially if you have a preferred healthcare provider.
If you're not looking for a Medicare Advantage plan but want to cover out-of-pocket costs that your base Medicare plan doesn't cover, MoneyGeek also ranked the best Medicare Supplement Plans in Kansas.
bestMedicare AdvantageKansasBest Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas
Best plan overall - AARP
Best HMO plan - AARP
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas - Overall
The best Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas is one that meets the shopper’s coverage needs and preferences.
In Kansas, the best overall PPO plan is from UnitedHealthcare, the AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 2. This is the most suitable for shoppers looking for a PPO plan with drug coverage, a total of eight core benefits and a high star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan typically comes with a higher premium but offers a variety of benefits compared to other plan types. For one, it is more flexible when it comes to choosing your provider, whether that is a preferred specialist, hospital or treatment center. It also has a larger network than other plan types.
AARP
MoneyGeek found that the AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 2 is the best PPO Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas. Below are the details of the plan:
- No monthly premiums
- Includes drug coverage with no deductible
- In-network max out-of-pocket limit of $3,900
- An overall star rating of 4 out of 5 from CMS
The core benefits included in this plan are vision, dental, hearing, fitness, worldwide emergency, telehealth, over-the-counter drugs and emergency response device. The inclusion of worldwide emergency coverage makes it a great choice for travelers. It also offers Part D prescription drugs coverage and has a solid CMS rating.
Best HMO Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas
Your individual coverage needs will determine the best HMO Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas for you. For example, shoppers who are looking for an HMO plan with added point-of-service benefits, drug coverage and the six common core benefits may look at the AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1.
An HMO plan tends to be cheaper than other plans but has more limits. First, you need to have a referral before visiting a specialist. You also need to stay within your network to be covered. With an added POS plan, you can get out-of-network coverage to provide more flexibility when it comes to seeing your preferred providers.
AARP
MoneyGeek found that the best HMO Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas is the AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1, offered by UnitedHealthcare. Details of this plan are as follows:
- No monthly premiums
- Includes drug coverage with no deductible
- In-network max out-of-pocket limit of $4,400
- Overall star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from CMS
Having the six common core benefits plus two additional benefits, the AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1 covers vision, dental, hearing, fitness, worldwide emergency, telehealth, over-the-counter drugs and emergency response devices. Aside from these benefits, it also offers prescription drug coverage and earned a strong CMS rating.
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas Without Drug Coverage
Getting Part D Medicare drug coverage is not mandatory, especially if you can get better coverage elsewhere. If you don’t need drug coverage, there might be more plans available to you. However, keep in mind that there are some consequences, like penalties and surcharges, if you change your mind and want to add Part D later.
For shoppers looking for a Medicare Advantage Plan with or without drug coverage, AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1 is the best option as it has eight core benefits and a high star rating from the CMS. Because it is an HMO plan with added POS coverage, you can also get coverage outside of your network.
AARP
MoneyGeek found that AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1, which was also our top pick for the best overall HMO plan, is the best plan regardless of whether you need drug coverage. Here are some things you can expect from buying this plan:
- No monthly premiums
- An in-network max out-of-pocket limit of $4,400
- An overall star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from CMS
UnitedHealthcare’s AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 1 does include coverage for prescription drugs with no deductible. That said, it's still the best choice even if you don’t require drug coverage. It pays for medical expenses such as vision, dental, hearing, fitness, worldwide emergency, telehealth, over-the-counter drugs and emergency response devices.
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas for Low Max Out-of-Pocket Costs
Your unique needs and budget determine the best Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas for you. For example, United Healthcare’s AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 2 is a PPO plan with six core benefits, two additional benefits and a high rating from CMS. It has a low in-network max out-of-pocket limit, which makes it an ideal plan for shoppers working with little budget. This plan was also our top overall PPO plan.
Out-of-pocket limits refer to the maximum amount you need to pay for medical care in a given year. Having a low maximum limit means that after you max out this amount, the plan pays 100% of all covered in-network medical costs.
AARP
MoneyGeek found that AARP Medicare Advantage Choice Plan 2 by UnitedHealthcare is the best PPO Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas if you want low out-of-pocket costs. Details of the plan are as follows:
- No monthly premiums
- Includes drug coverage with no deductible
- An in-network MOOP limit of $3,900
- An out-of-network MOOP limit of $10,000
- An overall star rating of 4 out of 5 from CMS
A plan with low out-of-pocket costs helps shoppers who are on a budget as it shoulders in-network medical costs after you reach your MOOP limit of $3,900. Since it is a PPO plan, you have a different MOOP limit of $10,000 for out-of-network coverages.
Medicare Advantage Plan in Kansas - Statistics
There are a total of 10 healthcare organizations that offer Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas. The statistics gathered by MoneyGeek will show you widely available plan types, which plans require premiums and which benefits from these plans are the most common.
- 1
Kansas Medicare Advantage Plans are a mix of HMO, PPO and PFFS plans, with 56.2% offering drug coverage.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans account for 48.6% of all plans in Kansas, while 18.8% are Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and 11.7% are Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans. 56.2% of these plans have drug coverage. If you’re looking for one without drug coverage, you may be limited to HMO plans only.
- 2
63% of Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas have no premium.
In Kansas, roughly 63% of all Medicare Advantage Plans have no premium costs. The remaining 37%, on the other hand, require you to pay a monthly premium of $56.30 on average.
- 3
Vision, hearing and telehealth benefits are common in Kansas, with most plans offering them.
The most common benefits in Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas are vision, hearing and telehealth, with at least 95% of plans offering each. Meanwhile, the most uncommon are home safety devices, in-home support and transportation, which are included in 22% or less of all plans.
Methodology
MoneyGeek collected data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2022 MA Landscape Source Files released in October 2021. Plans in Kansas were filtered down to those that offer drug coverage (unless otherwise noted), offer six of the most common Medicare Advantage coverage benefits and are available to at least 50% of the population of Kansas based on county availability.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.