Updated: September 26, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Oscar is the most affordable carrier in Kansas at $622 per month on average, $133 below the $755 state average.
The lowest monthly premium in Kansas means a higher deductible. UnitedHealthcare's Bronze EPO at $461 per month carries a $7,950 deductible. You pay $7,950 before coverage begins. Oscar's Gold EPO at $628 per month costs $167 more monthly than UHC's Bronze but costs less overall for anyone spending more than $4,000 on medical care per year.
All Kansas marketplace plans are EPOs, a plan type covering only in-network doctors and hospitals for non-emergency care. Oscar and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are available only in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. UnitedHealthcare covers 36 Kansas counties, including Topeka, Lawrence and Manhattan. Check your county before comparing plans.
Oscar has the cheapest health insurance in Kansas, averaging $622 per month, $133 below the state average of $755. Blue Cross Blue Shield at $639 and UnitedHealthcare at $667 also price below $755 per month.
Oscar, Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare all average under $670 per month. Ambetter averages $779 per month, a $112 monthly jump from UnitedHealthcare at $667. A 40-year-old who chooses Ambetter over UnitedHealthcare pays $1,344 more per year for the same EPO plan type.
Oscar | $622 | -$133 | $7,464 | -$1,596 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield | $639 | -$116 | $7,668 | -$1,392 |
UnitedHealthcare | $667 | -$88 | $8,004 | -$1,056 |
Ambetter | $779 | $24 | $9,348 | $288 |
Blue Cross And Blue Shield Of Kansas, Inc. | $909 | $154 | $10,908 | $1,848 |
Medica | $911 | $156 | $10,932 | $1,872 |
* Rates shown are based on the rounded average of each provider's monthly plan rates in Kansas. Average savings show how much cheaper each provider is compared to the statewide average. Your actual rates will vary based on age, location and chosen plan.
Kansas marketplace plans cover only in-network providers and come at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Use the filters below to sort by metal level, age and HSA eligibility.
| Oscar | Silver Classic Standard | $583 | EPO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Kc Simply Blue Silver With Spira Care Blue Metro Epo | $634 | EPO | Silver | $5,300 | $2,643 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Kc Choice Silver 1 With Spira Care Blueselect Epo | $663 | EPO | Silver | $4,936 | $2,450 | 40 | No |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | Blue Kc Standard Silver Blueselect Epo | $692 | EPO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | Uhc Silver Value ($0 Virtual Urgent Care, No Referrals) | $693 | EPO | Silver | $6,150 | $2,321 | 40 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | Uhc Silver Standard (No Referrals) | $694 | EPO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | Uhc Silver Advantage ($0 Virtual Urgent Care, $3 Tier 2 Rx, No Referrals) | $704 | EPO | Silver | $5,579 | $2,000 | 40 | No |
| Ambetter | Standard Silver | $705 | EPO | Silver | $5,657 | $3,100 | 40 | No |
| UnitedHealthcare | Uhc Silver Value+ ($0 Virtual Urgent Care, Dental + Vision, No Referrals) | $707 | EPO | Silver | $6,150 | $2,321 | 40 | No |
| Ambetter | Focused Silver | $712 | EPO | Silver | $5,321 | $3,436 | 40 | No |
EPO plans cover only in-network doctors and hospitals, with no referrals needed to see a specialist. All Kansas marketplace plans are EPOs. UnitedHealthcare has the cheapest Bronze EPO at $461 per month for a 40-year-old, with a deductible and out-of-pocket maximum of $7,950. Once you pay $7,950 in a plan year, UHC covers all remaining costs.
Oscar has the cheapest Silver EPO at $583 per month and the cheapest Gold at $628 for a 40-year-old. Oscar's Gold deductible of $1,500 is $6,450 below UHC's Bronze deductible of $7,950. At more than $4,000 in annual medical costs, Oscar's Gold EPO costs less overall than UHC's Bronze.
Bronze | UnitedHealthcare | $461 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
Silver | Oscar | $583 | $5,657 | $3,100 |
Gold | Oscar | $628 | $6,150 | $1,500 |
Under 30, Blue Cross Blue Shield has the cheapest plans in Kansas. Blue Cross Blue Shield's Catastrophic EPO costs $317 per month at 18 and $355 at 26. Catastrophic plans carry a $10,600 deductible and are available only to adults under 30, or those with a qualifying hardship exemption.
At 40 and older, UnitedHealthcare's Bronze EPO has the lowest monthly premium at $461. UHC's Bronze premium rises $183 per month from 40 to 50, then $335 per month from 50 to 60. At 60, UHC Bronze costs $979 per month, $518 more than the same plan at 40.
18 | Blue Cross Blue Shield | EPO | Catastrophic | $317 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
26 | Blue Cross Blue Shield | EPO | Catastrophic | $355 | $10,600 | $10,600 |
40 | UnitedHealthcare | EPO | Bronze | $461 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
50 | UnitedHealthcare | EPO | Bronze | $644 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
60 | UnitedHealthcare | EPO | Bronze | $979 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
HSA-eligible plans pair a lower monthly premium with a health savings account, which lets you set aside pretax money for out-of-pocket medical costs. UnitedHealthcare's Bronze EPO is the cheapest HSA-eligible plan in Kansas at $461 per month for a 40-year-old, with a $7,950 deductible.
Oscar's Expanded Bronze EPO costs $477 per month for a 40-year-old. The deductible is $4,425 on Oscar's plan, compared to $7,950 on UHC's Bronze. The $16 monthly premium difference ($192 per year) buys $3,525 less in deductible exposure.
EPO | UnitedHealthcare | Bronze | $461 | $7,950 | $7,950 |
EPO | Oscar | Expanded Bronze | $477 | $4,425 | $7,547 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Catastrophic EPO totals $6,328 for a 40-year-old with $1,000 in medical expenses. Catastrophic plans are available only to adults under 30, or those with a qualifying hardship exemption. For 40-year-olds without an exemption, UHC's Bronze EPO at $461 is the lowest-cost option for low medical use at $6,532 annually.
Oscar's Gold EPO at $628 per month costs less overall than UHC's Bronze for 40-year-olds with $5,000 or more in annual medical expenses. Oscar's Gold totals $9,736 at $5,000 in annual expenses, $796 less than UHC's Bronze at the same usage. At $20,000 in annual expenses, Oscar's Gold totals $12,736, $746 less than UHC's Bronze.
Low ($1,000) | Blue Cross Blue Shield | Catastrophic EPO | $444 | $1,000 | $6,328 |
Moderate ($5,000) | Oscar | Gold EPO | $628 | $2,200 | $9,736 |
High ($20,000) | Oscar | Gold EPO | $628 | $5,200 | $12,736 |
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Kansas residents shop for marketplace coverage through HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment is Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. Oscar and Blue Cross Blue Shield are available only in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. UnitedHealthcare covers 36 Kansas counties. Premium tax credits reduce monthly premiums for households that qualify based on income.
UnitedHealthcare's Bronze EPO at $461 per month costs more overall than Oscar's Gold at $628 for a 40-year-old spending $5,000 on medical care per year. Oscar Gold limits out-of-pocket spending to $2,200 at that usage level, while UHC Bronze charges $5,000 because $5,000 falls below its $7,950 deductible.
Premium tax credits through HealthCare.gov reduce monthly premiums based on household income and size. Credits are available for incomes between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Calculate your credit at HealthCare.gov before ruling out any plan based on its listed premium.
Kansas marketplace plans are all EPOs, covering only in-network providers for non-emergency care. Oscar and Blue Cross Blue Shield cover only Johnson and Wyandotte counties. UnitedHealthcare serves 36 Kansas counties, including Topeka, Lawrence and Manhattan. Members outside the Kansas City metro need to compare UHC plans only.
Plans sort medications into tiers, and the tier determines your cost. The same drug can cost far more on one plan than another when its tier placement differs. Pull up each plan's medication list on HealthCare.gov before enrolling.
Open enrollment is Nov. 1 through Jan. 15 each year. Outside that window, enrollment requires a qualifying life event, such as job loss, marriage or having a child. KanCare accepts applications year-round if you meet income and eligibility requirements.
KanCare, Kansas's Medicaid program, covers children under 19, pregnant women, parents of minor children and people with qualifying disabilities at little to no cost. Kansas has not expanded Medicaid. Single adults under 65 without children or a qualifying disability do not qualify for KanCare regardless of income. Apply at ApplyForKanCare.ks.gov to check eligibility.
Oscar has the cheapest health insurance in Kansas, averaging $622 per month. For adults under 30, Blue Cross Blue Shield's Catastrophic EPO starts at $317 per month at age 18 but carries a $10,600 deductible.
Compare plans on HealthCare.gov during open enrollment from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. Oscar and Blue Cross Blue Shield are available only in Johnson and Wyandotte counties. UnitedHealthcare serves 36 counties. Check your county first, then compare plans by metal level and expected medical use.
Low-premium plans carry higher deductibles. UnitedHealthcare's Bronze EPO at $461 per month carries a $7,950 deductible. You pay $7,950 before coverage begins. Gold plans cost less overall for anyone spending over $4,000 on medical care per year.
Kansas health insurance averages $755 per month, or $9,060 annually. Monthly premiums range from $317 for young adults on Catastrophic plans to $1,969 for 60-year-olds, depending on age, coverage tier and plan type.
Open enrollment is November 1 through January 15 each year. Outside that window, you need a qualifying life event, such as job loss, marriage or having a child, to enroll. KanCare accepts applications year-round at ApplyForKanCare.ks.gov.
Kansas does not require health insurance. The federal individual mandate penalty ended in 2019. Without coverage, you pay full price for medical care and prescriptions, with nothing to limit the cost of a large medical event.
We collected plan data from the federal health insurance marketplace for Kansas consumers, to identify which insurers have the lowest premiums for different plan types and demographics.
Our Analysis Approach
We gathered plan information for consumers aged 18 to 60, specifically examining costs for people aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. The cheapest overall rankings focus on 40-year-olds' monthly premiums, as this age group is the most common demographically and provides a clear comparison.
Age-specific rankings use their respective premium costs. Cheaper monthly premiums mean higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums when you need care.
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer 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.
