Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas (2026)

fact checked icon

Updated: September 12, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Kansas

UnitedHealthcare is the best Medicare Advantage company in Kansas because it serves 71 of the state's 105 counties with a 4-star CMS quality rating and a $4,900 median cost ceiling, below the $5,000 state median. Humana has the lowest carrier cost ceiling at $4,700, with 13 plans across 55 counties.

Aetna Medicare has the most plan options at 20 and a 4-star quality rating in 58 counties. Wellcare covers 56 counties with three plans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas serves 51 counties with five plans. HealthSpring is available in six Kansas counties.

UnitedHealthcare
4.3
$4,900
4
71
14
Humana
4.2
$4,700
3.5
55
13
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
4.1
$5,400
3.5
51
5
Aetna Medicare
4.1
$5,050
4
58
20
Wellcare
3.8
$5,000
2.5
56
3
HealthSpring
3.7
$6,425
3
6
3

Kansas Medicare Advantage Market Overview

Kansas Medicare Advantage plans come from seven carriers in 2026, with 62 plans available statewide excluding Special Needs Plan categories. Medicare Advantage is private insurance covering the same services as Original Medicare (Parts A and B), and all Kansas plans add vision benefits Original Medicare doesn't include. The median Kansas county has 20 plan options available. 

Most plans carry no additional monthly premium, so out-of-pocket costs are where the real cost differences appear. The median maximum out-of-pocket limit is $5,000, with plans ranging from $2,900 to $9,250. Kansas plans average 3.84 out of 5 stars on CMS quality measures, below the four-star threshold. Kansas Medicare Supplement plans work alongside Original Medicare rather than replacing it and are worth comparing as an alternative.

Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans
62
Kansas beneficiaries choose from 62 non-SNP plans across a market sized between the smallest and largest we analyzed.
Carriers
7
7 carriers divide Kansas's MA market. Each company's claims record and star rating are worth reviewing individually.
CMS contracts
15
15 CMS contracts across 7 carriers. Two plans from the same insurer can carry different star ratings.
Median plans per county
20
The typical Kansas county has 20 local plans, giving most residents a workable starting point.
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans
318,845

More than 318,000 Kansans are enrolled in the plans we analyzed.

Plans with a $0 premium
98%
98% of Kansas plans charge nothing beyond your Part B premium each month.
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP)
$5,000
Kansas's $5,000 median MOOP puts most enrollees' annual in-network cost ceiling below the state's highest plans.
MOOP range
$2,900–$9,250
The $2,900 MOOP floor means some Kansas plans cap costs well below the state median.
Average CMS star rating
3.84 out of 5
Kansas plans score 3.84 stars on average, short of the four-star CMS quality mark.
Contracts rated 4+ stars
40%
2 in 5 Kansas contracts earn four or more CMS stars. Star ratings vary by contract, not just by carrier.
UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare

MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $4,900

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    71

  • Plans Available

    14
Humana

Humana

MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $4,700

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3.5

  • Counties Served

    55

  • Plans Available

    13
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.1/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.5/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $5,400

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3.5

  • Counties Served

    51

  • Plans Available

    5
Aetna Medicare

Aetna Medicare

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.1/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $5,050

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    58

  • Plans Available

    20
WellCare

WellCare

MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
3.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $5,000

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    2.5

  • Counties Served

    56

  • Plans Available

    3
HealthSpring

HealthSpring

MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ 5
4/5Affordability
3.5/5Quality & Member Experience
3.7/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $6,425

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3

  • Counties Served

    6

  • Plans Available

    3

How to Find the Best Kansas Medicare Advantage Plans

Your provider network, prescription drug coverage and annual spending limit are the three factors that determine which plan fits.

  1. 1
    Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network

    Confirm your primary care doctor, specialists, and preferred hospitals in Wichita or Kansas City accept your specific Medicare Advantage plan, since a provider who accepts Medicare may not accept every Medicare Advantage plan. HMO plans limit you to in-network providers except for emergencies. PPO plans allow out-of-network care at higher cost.

  2. 2
    Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs

    Your maximum out-of-pocket limit, the most you'll pay for covered in-network services in a year, matters more than the monthly premium. A $0-premium plan with a $9,250 MOOP can cost far more than one with a $3,400 ceiling if you need frequent medical care. The difference between Kansas' highest and lowest plan maximum out-of-pocket limit is $6,350.

  3. 3
    Review Prescription Drug Coverage

    Check that your medications appear on each plan's formulary and note their tier placement, since tier determines what you pay at the pharmacy. Two UnitedHealthcare Erickson plans in Johnson County don't include Part D, the federal prescription drug benefit. Confirm whether Part D is bundled into the plan before enrolling, if you take regular medications.

  4. 4
    Evaluate Additional Benefits

    All Kansas plans include vision, and most add dental. Hearing coverage is available only through Aetna Medicare and Wellcare. If hearing aid coverage matters to you, compare those two carriers. OTC allowances appear across several plans, with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas including one on every plan in its lineup.

  5. 5
    Consider CMS Star Ratings

    Each plan's CMS star rating measures quality on a one-to-five scale. CMS covers care coordination, customer service and complaint rates. In Kansas, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna Medicare hold 4-star median ratings. Wellcare carries a 2.5-star median. When two plans have similar costs and benefits, the CMS rating points you toward the stronger option.

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Kansas?

HMO-POS plans have the lowest median maximum out-of-pocket limit in Kansas at $4,200, the tightest annual cost cap among the three plan types. HMO plans have the lowest median specialist copay at $28 per visit, and their median annual out-of-pocket ceiling is $6,125, the highest of the three types.

PPO plans have the highest median specialist copay at $38 per visit, the trade-off for out-of-network provider access. All three plan types have a $0 median monthly premium. The real difference in Kansas Medicare Advantage costs comes from your plan type and how much care you use in a year.

Median Monthly Premium
$0
$0
$0
Median Max Out-of-Pocket
$6,125
$4,200
$5,300
Median Inpatient Copay
$382
$375
$375
Median PCP Copay
$15
$18
$15
Median Specialist Copay
$28
$30
$38

*Median cost figures across all 62 non-SNP Kansas MA plans, grouped by plan type. All dollar figures rounded to nearest dollar. Source: CMS 2026 data, MoneyGeek analysis.

Kansas Medicare Advantage Resources

Use these state and federal resources to compare Kansas Medicare Advantage plans, check enrollment options and get free guidance.

Compare Medicare Advantage Rates

Get the best insurance rate. Compare quotes from top insurance companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Methodology

MoneyGeek compiled Kansas Medicare Advantage carrier scores using five CMS data sources for the 2026 plan year: the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.   

How We Score Carriers

Three weighted categories feed into each Kansas carrier's MoneyGeek score out of five.   

  • Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure captures annual premiums, the out-of-pocket maximum and inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
  • Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings provide 60% of this category. CAHPS C26 member ratings add the remaining 40%. Both are scored at the contract level.
  • Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, earn 50% of this category. County coverage and plan choice per county round out the remaining weight at 30% and 20%.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.

Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

Read Full Bio »
Sources