Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas (2026)

Key Takeaways

Kansas has 39 Medicare Advantage plans from six providers across HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS plan types with premiums ranging from $0 to $118 per month.

Top Medicare Advantage providers in Kansas by plan type include Cigna HealthCare for HMO, Humana for HMO-POS and UnitedHealthcare for PPO.

Consider whether your preferred doctors and hospitals participate in the plan’s network, how well your prescription medications are covered, and how much you can budget for premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs throughout the year.

Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Kansas

We analyzed the best Kansas Medicare Advantage plans to identify the top providers across major plan types in the state, focusing on overall value, affordability and coverage quality. Our evaluation considered CMS star ratings, monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs to highlight insurers that offer strong benefits at competitive prices.

Cigna HealthCare leads for HMO coverage with $0 monthly premiums, though it carries a higher maximum out-of-pocket cost of $6,750. Humana offers a good HMO-POS plan, with the lowest MOOP at $3,873, $0 premiums, and the highest star rating at 3.62. UnitedHealthcare provides the best PPO option with $0 premiums and a $5,000 MOOP, giving you more flexibility to see out-of-network providers.


HMO	Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$6,750	HealthSpring Preferred (HMO)
HMO-POS	Humana	3.62	$0	$3,873	Humana Gold Plus H0028-054 (HMO-POS)
PPO	UnitedHealthcare	3.50	$0	$5,000	AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC KC-4 (PPO)

Medicare Advantage Plans Explained

Medicare Advantage plans offer an alternative to Original Medicare by bundling hospital and medical coverage through private insurers. These Part C plans add prescription drugs, dental, vision, and hearing benefits that traditional Medicare doesn't cover.

CMS Star Ratings: Medicare scores plans from 1 to 5 stars based on quality measures and customer satisfaction. Plans earning 4 or 5 stars show strong performance across healthcare delivery and member services.
Monthly premiums: You'll pay your standard Part B premium plus any plan-specific monthly fees. Many Medicare Advantage plans in the Sunflower State charge $0 additional premiums beyond your Part B cost.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: This annual cap protects you from unlimited medical expenses each year. Once you hit this limit, your plan covers 100% of remaining costs for covered services.
Prescription drug coverage: Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D medication benefits as part of the package. Check each plan's drug formulary to confirm your prescriptions are covered and understand any restrictions.

Cigna

Best HMO

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.0
Plan Types
HMO, PPO

pros
- 3-star CMS rating across HMO options
- All plans charge $0 monthly premium
- Enhanced Part D drug coverage included with all plans
cons
- No HMO-POS plan options
- Limited plan selection
Cigna HealthCare is the top HMO Medicare Advantage provider in Kansas, offering two HMO plans with $0 monthly premiums and a 3.0-star CMS rating. These plans feature average maximum out-of-pocket costs of $5,500 and include enhanced Part D prescription drug coverage.

Cigna HealthCare also offers a single PPO option that earns a higher 3.5-star CMS rating and includes enhanced Part D coverage. The PPO plan offers greater provider flexibility than HMO plans, appealing to members who value the ability to see specialists or access care outside a network.

Humana

Best HMO-POS

MoneyGeek Rating

4.8/ 5

5/5Affordability

4.4/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.62
Plan Types
HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS

pros
- 9 of 12 plans have $0 monthly premium
- All plan types
- Out-of-network provider access
cons
- Higher costs for out-of-network care
Humana is the leading HMO-POS Medicare Advantage provider in Kansas, offering plans across HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, and PFFS networks. Humana’s HMO-POS options give members limited access to out-of-network care while keeping maximum out-of-pocket costs among the lowest in the state. Most plans include enhanced Part D prescription drug coverage, often with no deductible on select medication tiers.

With CMS star ratings ranging from 3.5 to 4.5, Humana offers the cost savings of an HMO with the added freedom of point-of-service coverage.

UnitedHealthcare

Best PPO

MoneyGeek Rating

4.7/ 5

4.7/5Affordability

4.6/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.5
Plan Types
PPO, HMO-POS, PFFS

pros
- 6 of 12 plans have no monthly premium
- $4,900 average MOOP below state average of $5,306
cons
- No HMO plans
- Low 2.5 star rating on PFFS plan
UnitedHealthcare offers three PPO plans. The AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC KC-4 has $0 monthly premiums and a $4,900 maximum out-of-pocket limit, allowing members to see out-of-network providers when needed. All three PPO plans include enhanced Part D prescription coverage, often with no deductible on select medication tiers, and maintain 3.5-star CMS ratings.

UnitedHealthcare’s PPO plans also come in below the national average premium. The insurer provides eight HMO-POS plans, including three Erickson Advantage options with 5-star CMS ratings, though these have higher monthly premiums.

Best Kansas HMO Medicare Advantage Providers

Seniors in the Sunflower State can choose from five HMO Medicare Advantage plans across three providers. Maximum out-of-pocket costs range from $4,250 to $6,800, averaging $5,895 annually, while three out of the five plans have no monthly premium. CMS star ratings average 3.5 stars, with 2 plans earning 4 stars or higher, and all 5 plans include enhanced Part D prescription drug coverage.

Cigna HealthCare offers two HMO plans with a 3.0-star CMS rating, both charging $0 monthly premiums and averaging $6,750 in maximum out-of-pocket costs.
Aetna provides two HMO plans with a 4.0-star CMS rating, $36 average monthly premiums, and the lowest maximum out-of-pocket costs in Kansas at $4,990.
Humana delivers only one HMO plan with a 3.5-star rating, a $18 monthly premium, and a $6,800 annual out-of-pocket limit.


Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$6,750	2	5.00
Aetna	4.00	$36	$4,990	2	4.26
Humana	3.50	$18	$6,800	1	3.88

HMO PROS AND CONS

HMO Medicare Advantage plans require you to stay within their provider network and get referrals for specialists. You'll pay lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and you'll have coordinated care. These plans work well for Kansas residents who don't mind having a primary care doctor manage their care and rarely need out-of-network providers.

Best Kansas HMO-POS Medicare Advantage Providers

HMO-POS plans in Kansas provide out-of-network access when needed, though they cost more than standard HMOs, averaging $26 per month. The state offers 14 plans from four providers, with nine charging $0 premiums. Maximum out-of-pocket limits range from $2,900 to $6,750, averaging $4,370 annually, providing extra protection for members who occasionally use out-of-network care.

Humana ranks first among Kansas HMO-POS providers, offering three $0-premium plans with an average maximum out-of-pocket limit of $3,873 and a CMS rating of 3.62 stars.
Aetna provides two plans with 4.0-star CMS ratings, charging $0 premiums and averaging $4,251 in maximum out-of-pocket costs.
UnitedHealthcare offers the most options, with eight plans averaging $19 per month, a 4.02-star CMS rating, and $4,265 average maximum out-of-pocket costs.


Humana	3.62	$0	$3,873	3	4.75
Aetna	4.00	$0	$4,251	2	4.73
UnitedHealthcare	4.02	$19	$4,265	8	4.28
Wellcare	3.00	$0	$5,000	1	3.75

HMO-POS PROS AND CONS

HMO-POS plans let you keep the lower costs of traditional HMOs while giving you the option to see out-of-network providers when necessary, though you'll pay higher costs for that flexibility. They work well for Kansas residents who prefer coordinated care through a primary doctor but need access to specialists or providers outside their network, especially when traveling.

Best Kansas PPO Medicare Advantage Providers

Kansas has 18 PPO Medicare Advantage plans available from six providers, with an average monthly premium of $5 and fifteen plans charging $0 per month. Maximum out-of-pocket limits average $5,306, ranging from $3,400 to $9,250, while CMS star ratings average 3.58.

UnitedHealthcare leads Kansas PPO options with three plans offering $0 monthly premiums, $5,000 maximum out-of-pocket limits, and 3.5-star CMS ratings.
Humana ranks second with seven plans earning the highest ratings at a 3.88 star average, with $7 monthly premiums and $5,069 average maximum out-of-pocket costs.
Aetna offers three plans with $0 monthly premiums, $5,341 average maximum out-of-pocket costs, and 3.5-star CMS ratings.


UnitedHealthcare	3.50	$0	$5,000	3	4.67
Humana	3.88	$7	$5,069	7	4.54
Aetna	3.50	$0	$5,341	3	4.51
Wellcare	2.50	$0	$4,500	1	4.25
Blue Cross Blue Shield	3.50	$15	$4,591	3	4.05
Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$6,425	1	3.88

PPO PROS AND CONS

PPO Medicare Advantage plans let you visit any Medicare-approved doctor without referrals and choose between in-network or out-of-network care. You'll pay higher monthly premiums and out-of-pocket maximums than HMO plans for this freedom.

How to Find the Best Kansas Medicare Advantage Plans

Consider what matters most: your preferred doctors and hospitals, prescription drug coverage and your total health care budget.

1
Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network
Before enrolling in any plan, confirm that your current doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals in cities like Wichita or Kansas City participate in the plan's network. HMO plans restrict you to in-network providers except for emergencies, while PPO plans allow out-of-network access at higher costs. Learn more about health insurance network types.
2
Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
Don't focus solely on monthly premiums. The maximum out-of-pocket limit represents your total financial exposure for covered services each year. For example, a plan with a $0 premium but $7,833 maximum out-of-pocket costs might exceed a $29 premium plan capped at $6,750 if you require regular medical care throughout the year.
3
Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Check that your current medications appear on each plan's drug formulary and understand their tier placement, which directly affects your costs. Most Medicare Advantage plans available in Kansas include Part D prescription drug coverage, though some require you to purchase it separately.
4
Evaluate Additional Benefits
Medicare Advantage plans include dental care, vision services, hearing aids, gym memberships and transportation to medical appointments. Check benefits for each plan.
5
Consider CMS Star Ratings
Review each plan's CMS star rating, which measures quality and performance on a scale of one to five stars. Plans earning four or five stars deliver superior customer service, better care coordination and improved health outcomes. Higher-rated plans often indicate fewer member complaints.

Average Kansas Medicare Advantage Cost

Network structure plays a key role in determining Kansas Medicare Advantage costs. PPO plans are the most affordable in the state, costing an average of $6 per month with a $5,307 maximum out-of-pocket limit. HMO plans average $11 per month with $5,896 MOOP limits. HMO-POS plans add out-of-network flexibility, averaging $27 per month while providing the state’s lowest average MOOP at $4,370. PFFS plans are the most expensive, with $78 monthly premiums and $6,750 maximum out-of-pocket costs, reflecting their fee-for-service structure and greater provider flexibility.


HMO	$0	$11	$5,896
HMO-POS	$0	$27	$4,370
PFFS	$78	$78	$6,750
PPO	$0	$6	$5,307

Best Kansas Medicare Advantage: FAQ

Get answers about Kansas Medicare Advantage plans:

When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan in Kansas?

Kansas residents can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, or during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31. You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you relocate or experience qualifying life changes.

Does Medicare Advantage cover prescription drugs in Kansas?

Yes, most Medicare Advantage plans in Kansas include prescription drug coverage as part of their benefits package. Before enrolling, confirm your medications appear on the plan's formulary and review their tier placement, which directly impacts your out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy.

Do I need to change Medicare Advantage plans if I move to a different county in Kansas?

Moving counties within Kansas may impact your Medicare Advantage plan since coverage networks are location-specific. You should notify your current plan within 30 days of relocating and can utilize a Special Enrollment Period to select a different plan if needed.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Kansas Medicare Advantage Plans

MoneyGeek analyzed Medicare Advantage plans in Kansas using three core criteria:

Affordability (50%): Costs represent half the total score due to their immediate effect on your spending. We analyzed combined monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage (weighted at 30%) and in-network maximum out-of-pocket limits (weighted at 20%). Plans with lower premiums and MOOP thresholds score higher by reducing annual health care expenses.
Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings evaluate plan performance in care quality, customer service and member experience. The Overall Star Rating integrates Part C (medical benefits) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) scores into one rating on a 1 to 5-star scale. Higher-rated plans score better in our evaluation.
Availability (10%): We consider each insurer's coverage area across the United States. Providers serving more states score higher, as broader availability indicates more robust infrastructure, better support and better continuity if you relocate.

These factors create a fair comparison of Medicare Advantage plans, weighing costs against care quality and service.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

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