Kansas Health Insurance Plans and Insurance Companies covering Kansas

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Individual Health Insurance

With a wide variety of available health insurance plans, residents of Kansas must carefully research their options before choosing a health plan. If you are a resident of Kansas, Health Plan One can help you tailor a plan that meets your specific needs. In 2004, 6% of Kansas residents were covered under individual health insurance. According to www.ahip.org, only 40% of small group employers offered health insurance coverage to their employees in 2005, forcing many workers to apply for individual health insurance. According to www.familiesusa.org, from 2000 to 2006, family health insurance premiums for workers in Kansas rose 5 times faster than incomes. On average, family health insurance premiums rose by 78.5%, while median earnings rose by only 15.6%.

There are various individual health insurance policies available in Kansas, therefore, consumers must research carefully for the plan that meets their needs. Medical underwriting is allowed without restriction. Medical underwriting is the process that allows insurance companies to review the medical history of prospective members. There is a 12 month look back and 24 month exclusionary period limit for preexisting conditions.

There is a high risk pool in Kansas called the Kansas Health Insurance Association (KHIA), for the medically uninsurable. You may be medically or federally eligible for this pool. To be medically eligible you must be a resident of Kansas for at least 6 months, have been denied coverage by two carriers, or allowed coverage with exclusions or at a rate that is higher than the pool, or have lost coverage due to something other than failure to pay premiums, and are not eligible for another insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. To be federally eligible you must have had at least 18 months of credible coverage or more with a group plan, be ineligible for Medicare or Medicaid, not be covered by any other insurance, your last coverage was not ended due to failure to pay premiums or fraud, and you have exhausted COBRA options.

Coverage under KHIA includes the following: doctor visits, prescription drugs, outpatient and in-hospital care, maternity, ambulance, labs and x-rays, skilled nursing care, hospice, home health visits, transplants, rehabilitation, durable medical equipment, mental health and substance abuse, physical, speech and occupational therapy, and preventive care.

Uninsured Kansans

According to www.statehealthfacts.org, 11% of Kansans were uninsured in 2004. In 2001, the highest rate of uninsurance in Kansas was 19.8% for young adults between the ages of 19 and 24.

In 2005, Kansas ranked 25^th in percent of employers offering health insurance. In 2006, the average monthly premium for an individual in a small group was $299, while the average monthly premium for a family was $785. (www.ahip.org)

In Kansas, medical underwriting is allowed with a variance of plus or minus 25% of the indexed rate based on the health status of the group. For preexisting condition requirements, the carrier may look back in a consumer’s medical history 6 months and impose a 3 month exclusionary period for those that did not have prior medical coverage.

Kansas offers COBRA (the Consolidate Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985). Many companies with 20 or more employees that offer health insurance are required to offer employees and their dependents continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated with an employee’s employment due to job loss, reduction in hours worked, divorce, or death.

Medicaid is a state/federal program that pays for medical and long-term care services for low-income pregnant women, children, certain people on Medicare, disabled individuals and nursing home residents. These individuals must meet certain income and other requirements.

Income requirements:

Children
- Ages 1-5: 133% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Ages 6-19: 100% of the Federal Poverty Level
Pregnant Women and Infants
- Pregnant Women: 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Infants - Ages 0-1: 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
Parents
- Non-Working: 31% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Working: 38% of the Federal Poverty Level
Other populations
- Medically Needy Individual: 66% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Medically Needy Couple: 59% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Supplemental Security Income Recipients: 74% of the Federal Poverty Level

Covered Services

Physical health services-office visits, regular checkups, immunizations, hospital services, inpatient and outpatient hospital, lab and x-ray, prescription drugs, eye doctor exams and glasses, hearing services and speech, and physical and occupational therapy, dental health services for children-checkups, cleanings, sealants, x-rays and fillings, mental health services-inpatient and outpatient mental, behavioral and substance abuse services.

Co-Payments

There are no co-pays for children under 19 years of age. Co-pays for adults vary.

You may learn more about Kansas Medicaid at http://www.srskansas.org/hcp/MPmain.html.

Kansas offers the program HealthWave 21 for children under the age of 19 in households with an income of up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level who are residents of Kansas. Please visit the HealthWave website for more detailed information at http://www.kansashealthwave.org/.

Kansas Health Insurance Quotes

Kansas Health Insurance Companies

Kansas Health Insurance 411

Kansas Group & Small Business (2-50 employees) Health Insurance

Kansas COBRA Individual Health Coverage

Medicaid in Kansas

Other Kansas Health Insurance Programs