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 its maximum out-of-pocket cost reaches $6,750. For HMO-POS plans, Humana is a strong pick with the lowest MOOP at $3,873, $0 premiums and the highest star rating at 3.62. If you want the freedom to see out-of-network providers, UnitedHealthcare's PPO plan offers $0 premiums and a $5,000 MOOP.


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 with 4 or 5 stars perform well 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 Kansas charge $0 additional premiums beyond your Part B cost.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: This annual cap protects you from unlimited medical expenses. Once you hit it, your plan covers 100% of the remaining costs for covered services.
Prescription drug coverage: Most Medicare Advantage plans bundle Part D medication benefits into the package. Check each plan's drug formulary to confirm your prescriptions are covered and note 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 average $5,500 in maximum out-of-pocket costs and include enhanced Part D prescription drug coverage.

Cigna HealthCare also offers a single PPO option with a 3.5-star CMS rating and enhanced Part D coverage. The PPO gives members more provider flexibility, which works well for those who want to see specialists or get 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 available
- Out-of-network provider access
cons
- Higher costs for out-of-network care
Humana is the leading HMO-POS Medicare Advantage provider in Kansas, with plans across HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS networks. Its HMO-POS options give members limited out-of-network access 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 from 3.5 to 4.5, Humana combines 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 has two HMO plans with a 3.0-star CMS rating, both with $0 monthly premiums and a $6,750 average maximum out-of-pocket cost.
Aetna has 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 has one HMO plan with a 3.5-star rating, an $18 monthly premium and a $6,800 annual out-of-pocket limit.


Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$6,750	2	5
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 at an average of $26 per month. The state has 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, 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 3.62-star CMS rating.
Aetna offers two plans with 4.0-star CMS ratings, $0 premiums and an average maximum out-of-pocket cost of $4,251.
UnitedHealthcare has the most options, with eight plans averaging $19 per month, a 4.02-star CMS rating and $4,265 in 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 keep costs lower than traditional PPOs but let you go out of network when you need to. You'll pay more for those out-of-network visits, so the plan works best for Kansas residents who want a primary doctor coordinating their care but also need occasional access to specialists or out-of-area providers.

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, confirm your doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals in cities like Wichita or Kansas City are in the plan's network. HMO plans limit you to in-network providers except in emergencies. PPO plans allow out-of-network visits, but you'll pay more for them. Learn more about health insurance network types.
2
Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
Don't focus only on monthly premiums. The maximum out-of-pocket limit is the most you'll pay for covered services in a year. A plan with a $0 premium but a $7,833 MOOP could cost more than a $29-per-month plan capped at $6,750 if you use care regularly.
3
Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Check that your medications appear on each plan's drug formulary and note their tier placement, which affects your costs. Most Medicare Advantage plans in Kansas include Part D drug coverage, though some require you to buy it separately.
4
Evaluate Additional Benefits
Medicare Advantage plans can include dental, vision, hearing aids, gym memberships and medical transportation. Benefits vary by plan, so compare what each one covers before enrolling.
5
Consider CMS Star Ratings
Each plan's CMS star rating measures quality and performance on a one-to-five scale. Plans with four or five stars tend to have better care coordination, stronger customer service and 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 move or have a qualifying life change.

Does Medicare Advantage cover prescription drugs in Kansas?

Yes, most Medicare Advantage plans in Kansas include prescription drug coverage. Before enrolling, confirm your medications appear on the plan's formulary and check their tier placement, which affects 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 can affect your Medicare Advantage plan since coverage networks are location-specific. Notify your current plan within 30 days of the move. You can use a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans if your current one doesn't serve your new county.

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

MoneyGeek analyzed Medicare Advantage plans in Kansas using three criteria:

Affordability (50%): Costs account for half the total score because of their direct 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 limits score higher.
Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings measure plan performance across care quality, customer service and member experience. The Overall Star Rating combines Part C (medical benefits) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) scores into a single rating on a one-to-five-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 because broader availability points to stronger infrastructure and better support if you move.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he has produced original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). He began his career in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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