Learn about Medigap plans, costs, and coverage in Kansas.
Certified Senior Advisor®
Jump to section:Medigap plans are Medicare Supplement Insurance offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies to help cover cost sharing requirements of Original Medicare Parts A and B.
While Medicare pays for a large percentage of the health care services and supplies you may need, you are still responsible for a portion of the costs in the form of deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Medigap policies help with these costs and sometimes offer more coverage for excess charges and foreign travel health emergencies.
Medigap plans are standardized by Medicare and regulated by state laws and insurance commissioners. You pay a monthly premium for Medigap. Costs and availability of Medigap plans vary depending on several factors including your age and gender, the insurer, and your state of residence. Learn about Medigap in Kansas so you can determine which plan best meets your needs.
| Compare ratings of some of Kansas’s Medigap providers: | ||||
| Insurance company | A.M. Best rating | NAIC complaint index | BBB rating | Consumer Affairs |
| Aetna | A+ | Above average | A+ | 2.4/5 |
| Cigna | A | Below average | No rating | 3/5 |
| Humana | A- | Above average | A+ | 2.3/5 |
| UnitedHealthcare | A- | Below average | A+ | 2.1/5 |
Medigap policies serve as your secondary source of insurance after Medicare pays. Medigap fills in the “gaps” between what Medicare pays for covered services and what you are charged. Some plans offer extended coverage for Part B excess charges and foreign travel emergency costs.
There are ten standardized Medigap plans that are regulated by federal and state governments. Two of the ten plans (F and G) are the most comprehensive plans and also offer high-deductible versions. All plans are not available in all states.
Medigap policies may include the following benefits:
Expect to pay about $79 to $423 each month for a Medigap plan A, G, or N in Kansas if you enroll during your open enrollment period. Premiums will vary depending on your insurer and how your premium is rated.
Medigap policies can be rated in three ways:
Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans are very different. You are eligible for either type of plan when you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, but you cannot have both at the same time. Both Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans are offered by Medicare-approved private insurance companies. You can only choose to join plans that are available in your area.
Compare your options:
Every standardized type of Medigap plan is offered in Kansas, but Plans F and G offer the most comprehensive coverage and are the most popular. Plans F and G also come in a high-deductible version. Here are some highlights and difference among some of the plans:
| Medigap Benefits | Plan A | Plan B | Plan C | Plan D | Plan F* | Plan G* | Plan K | Plan L | Plan M | Plan N |
| Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part B coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes*** |
| Blood (first 3 pints) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | Yes | Yes |
| Part A deductible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50% | 75% | 50% | Yes |
| Part B deductible | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Part B excess charge | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) | No | No | 80% | 80% | 80% | 80% | No | No | 80% | 80% |
| Out-of-pocket limit** | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $6,620 | $3,310 | N/A | N/A |
* Plans F and G also offer a high-deductible plan in some states. With this option, you must pay for Medicare-covered costs (coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles) up to the deductible amount of $2,700 in 2023 before your policy pays anything. (Plans C and F aren’t available to people who were newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.)
** For Plans K and L, after you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don’t result in inpatient admission.
Plan F, because it pays the annual Part B deductible and is the most comprehensive plan available, is the most popular plan. However, because Plan F is only available to Medicare beneficiaries who were eligible before January 2020, Plan G is gaining in popularity. Plan G offers comprehensive coverage, except for the Part B deductible, and is widely available from most insurers.
In general, you will get the best price for Medicare Supplement Insurance if you purchase a plan as soon as you are eligible for Medicare and enrolled in Parts A and B.
Medigap Open Enrollment starts on the first day of the month that you turn 65 and are enrolled in both Parts A and B and lasts for six months. An insurance company is not allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application or change the price during this time.
To enroll in a Medigap Plan, contact the insurance company to make sure you are in your open enrollment period or have guaranteed issue rights. Complete the application and determine when you want your policy to start.
There are certain situations which may give you guaranteed issue rights to purchase a Medigap policy, regardless of your health conditions or any preexisting health conditions.
Consider these factors as you compare Medicare Supplement Insurance plans available in your area:
| Monthly premium | This is in addition to your Part B monthly premium, so it affects your monthly cash flow. You pay whether or not you access your benefits. Your premium amount is determined based on the type of plan you get, your age, gender, tobacco use, and state of residence. |
| Benefits | Basic coverage for Part A copays and coinsurance and at least a portion of Part B copays and coinsurance, three pints of blood, and hospice care are offered with every type of plan. Other benefits may not be included, so check to see which benefits are most important to you. |
| Insurance provider | Look at ratings and past experience, either your own or other consumers, with the carrier you are considering. Contact a company representative to get an idea of their customer service and responsiveness. |
| Extra discounts | Some plans and insurers offer added perks or discounts once you become a member. You may have access to discounted hearing aid providers or eyeglass suppliers, for instance. |
Medicare Advantage provides a range of valuable benefits to seniors in need of health insurance coverage, often over and above what’s offered under Original Medicare. Kansas’ Medicare Advantage program has several plans and options to choose from, which can make it confusing for some seniors to navigate the enrollment process. To encourage participation, Kansas has several state and local programs that offer personalized Medicare counseling to qualifying recipients, and they’re usually free of charge.
| Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services | Contact information: Website | (800) 860-5260 | The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services’ (KDADS) Commission on Aging oversees the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) program, which is a free service for older Kansans who have questions about Medicare and other insurance issues. Trained volunteers offer personalized counseling on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and long-term care. Counselors don’t work for an insurance company and only provide education and assistance, so Medicare-eligible seniors can make informed decisions about what’s best for them. Seniors can schedule counseling by calling KDADS or their nearest SHICK office. |
| Kansas Area Agencies on Aging | Contact Information: Website | (785) 267-1336 or (855) 200-2372 | Kansas Area Agencies on Aging oversees 11 Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) around the state. Each agency has SHICK program counselors who offer free, confidential one-on-one counseling on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, long-term care, and other insurance issues. They also help low- income Medicare beneficiaries apply for reduced cost medications through the Prescription Drug Program. Seniors in need of assistance can make an appointment by calling the statewide call center or local ADRCs. |
| K-State Sedgwick County Aging and Medicare | Contact Information: Website | (316) 660-0117 or (316) 660-0126 | Kansas State University’s Sedgwick County Aging and Medicare program has SHICK counselors available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to provide one-on-one, unbiased counseling and assistance with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, long-term care insurance, and other health insurance issues. Staff members also offer presentations and classes on aging, including Medicare Options Classes that provide basic information on Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap supplemental insurance plans, and Medicare prescription drug coverage. Seniors can check online for class schedules or call the extension office. |
| South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging | Contact Information: Website | (800) 362-0264 | The South Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging (SCKAAA) serves 10 counties in south-central Kansas as the local ADRC and operates the SHICK program. Its trained SHICK counselors answer Medicare questions and offer free advice about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, long-term care, and other health insurance subjects. SCKAAA also offers free publications and help with the prescription drug program, a privately funded program for low-income Medicare beneficiaries needing help paying for medications. |
| Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging | Contact Information: Website | (800) 432-7422 | The Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas and operates the local SHICK program. It offers free, personalized Medicare counseling sessions but doesn’t recommend specific policies, agents, or companies. Topics counselors cover include Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap, Medicare fraud, Medicare Prescription Drug plans, Medicare Savings Programs, the Extra Help Program for prescription drugs, Medicaid, and other health insurance options. |
As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.
A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.
As a CSAⓇ, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.
As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.
Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.
A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.
As a CSAⓇ, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.
