If you're turning 65 in Kansas or helping a parent work through Medicare, you're weighing four parts, dozens of plan options, and costs that reset every January. For 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, out-of-pocket spending on Part D drugs is capped at $2,100 a year, and free, unbiased counseling is available statewide through Kansas SHICK at 1-800-860-5260.,,

This guide walks through every piece of Medicare as it works for Kansans in 2026: what each part costs, how the plan landscape varies across the state, the Medigap rules specific to Kansas, and how to get help paying for it all.

In This Guide

About these numbers: The premiums and deductibles below come from CMS for calendar year 2026, effective January 1; CMS announced them on November 14, 2025. Medicare costs change every year, so check the CMS fact sheet or medicare.gov for the figures in force when you read this. To talk with a person about your own coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY 1-877-486-2048), staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except some federal holidays. Kansas SHICK counselors at 1-800-860-5260 can also help, for free.

Original Medicare: Parts A and B

Original Medicare is run directly by the federal government and comes in two parts.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, limited skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no premium for it.

Cost Amount
Monthly premium $0 for most people (40+ quarters of work history)
Hospital deductible $1,736 per benefit period
Hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 $434 per day
Lifetime reserve days $868 per day
SNF coinsurance, days 21-100 $217 per day

The hospital deductible resets each benefit period. A benefit period starts when you're admitted and ends once you've gone 60 days in a row without inpatient hospital care or skilled care in a skilled nursing facility. A readmission after that gap triggers a new deductible.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, durable medical equipment, and mental health care. Part B does not cover routine dental, vision, or hearing. Most Medicare Advantage plans offer routine dental, vision, and hearing benefits instead, so check what a specific plan actually covers before you count on it.

  • Monthly premium: $202.90 (higher if your income exceeds $109,000 single or $218,000 married, under the income-related monthly adjustment amount)
  • Annual deductible: $283
  • After the deductible: you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services

Part B is optional in name only. Nearly everyone enrolls. Delay past your initial enrollment window without qualifying for a Special Enrollment Period or a Medicare Savings Program and you owe a late penalty of 10% for every 12 months you could have had it, permanently added to your premium. Creditable drug coverage is the Part D exception, not the Part B one.

Medicare Advantage Plans in Kansas (Part C)

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are an alternative to Original Medicare, sold by private insurers. They cover everything Parts A and B do, except hospice, which Original Medicare keeps covering, and most bundle Part D drug coverage along with extras like dental, vision, and hearing.

Plan availability in Kansas varies by location. The Kansas City metro (including Johnson and Wyandotte counties) and Wichita have the most carrier competition, with multiple HMO and PPO plans available. Rural counties in western and central Kansas typically have fewer plans, and some areas may offer only one or two options. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to see which plans are available in your ZIP code.

How These Plans Work

If your current plan leaves your area for 2026, you get a Special Enrollment Period to pick a new one. Enter your doctors and prescriptions into the Plan Finder and it shows which plans cover them and your estimated annual cost.

Medicare Part D: Prescription Drugs

Part D covers outpatient prescription drugs. You can get it as a standalone plan paired with Original Medicare, or bundled into a Medicare Advantage plan.

The Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the old coverage gap (the donut hole), so that higher-cost middle stage is gone. Part D now moves through three phases:

  1. Deductible: you pay full price until you meet your plan's deductible (up to $615 in 2026).
  2. Initial coverage: you pay copays or coinsurance while your plan and drug makers cover the rest.
  3. Catastrophic: once your out-of-pocket spending reaches $2,100, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.

That $2,100 cap (up from $2,000 in 2025) is the number that matters most for high-cost drug users. Standalone Part D premiums vary widely by plan; the 2026 projected average runs roughly $34.50 a month. Every Part D and Medicare Advantage drug plan must also offer the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread out-of-pocket costs into capped monthly payments across the year rather than paying in full at the pharmacy. People who qualify for Extra Help often pay much less, sometimes nothing.

Not sure which Part D plan fits your prescriptions? Chat with Brevy's care navigator at brevy.com.

Medigap in Kansas

Medigap policies are sold by private insurers to fill the gaps in Original Medicare: the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. They work with Original Medicare, and a Medigap policy can't pay a Medicare Advantage plan's copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or premiums. In Kansas, the Kansas Insurance Department regulates Medicare Supplement insurance, while Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans are regulated by the federal government.

Kansas offers the federally standardized plans, labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Every company that sells Medicare Supplement insurance in Kansas must offer Plan A, plus Plan D or Plan G for people eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plans C and F are closed to people new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. Plan G is the popular pick for people newly eligible: it covers the Part A deductible, Part A and Part B coinsurance, and skilled nursing coinsurance, leaving only the $283 Part B deductible on you.,

When You Can Buy Without Health Questions

Your strongest opening is your six-month Medigap open enrollment period. In Kansas it starts on the same day your Part B coverage starts, and it applies whether you're 65 or older or under 65 and on Medicare because of a disability. During it you can buy any Medicare Supplement policy sold in Kansas, even if you have health problems, and insurers must charge healthy applicants and those with medical conditions the same rate.

If you're under 65 and on Medicare because of a disability, Kansas law bars an insurer from denying you a Medicare supplement policy, or conditioning it on your health, when you apply within six months of enrolling in Part B. The insurer must make every type of policy it sells to people on Medicare by age available to you, and it can't charge you more for a plan than it charges 65-year-olds for that plan. A second open enrollment period applies when you turn 65.

After your six-month window ends, insurers can use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept you and how much to charge, and there's no guarantee a company will sell you a policy unless you're eligible through a special situation. That makes the first six months the safest time to buy if you think you might ever want Medigap.

Kansas also recognizes guaranteed issue rights: for a set period outside your initial open enrollment period, an insurer must give you access to certain Medicare Supplement plans without medical underwriting. The Kansas Insurance Department lists situations that include your employer group or union coverage ending, losing your Medicare Advantage coverage, your Medicare Supplement policy ending through no fault of your own, and losing your Medicaid eligibility. The plans available and the length of the window vary by situation, and KID's guide says application windows generally run from as early as 60 days before your coverage ends to no later than 63 days after. Our Kansas Medicare Supplement guide walks through each one.

Medigap or Medicare Advantage?

That's a fork in the road, but it isn't locked in forever. If this is your first Medicare Advantage plan and you aren't happy with it, federal law gives you a trial right to buy a Medigap policy and a separate drug plan as long as you return to Original Medicare within 12 months of joining; if you dropped a Medigap policy to join, you may be able to get that same policy back if the company still sells it. Wait past that window and in most cases you can't get the old policy back, and you may not be able to get any Medigap policy. Choose Medigap and you stay on Original Medicare with the freedom to see any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide, at a higher monthly premium. Choose Medicare Advantage and you trade some of that flexibility for a network structure and, often, a lower upfront cost. Because insurers can use medical underwriting once your open enrollment period ends, unless you qualify through a special situation, weigh that trade carefully before your window closes.

Help Paying for Medicare Plans in Kansas

Two programs can significantly reduce Medicare costs for people on fixed incomes.

Medicare Savings Programs

Kansas's Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) pay some or all of your Medicare premiums and cost-sharing based on your income and resources, and you reach them through KanCare. Kansas defines them in its Medicaid eligibility manual, KEESM, and uses its own names for two of the three tiers: the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, then Regular LMB, which is Kansas's name for SLMB, and Expanded LMB, its name for QI-1. QMB and LMB do not overlap, and Expanded LMB is open only to people who are not otherwise Medicaid eligible or seeking to become so.

Program Individual Couple What it pays
QMB $1,350 $1,824 Part A and B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance
SLMB (Regular LMB) $1,616 $2,184 Part B premium
QI-1 (Expanded LMB) $1,816 $2,455 Part B premium

Those are the federal figures, not Kansas's. Social Security publishes them on the row for "All States except Alaska and Hawaii," which is the row Kansas falls on, and each one already includes the $20 monthly SSI general income exclusion. Kansas states its own dollar standards only by reference, in KEESM 5130 and the F-8 Kansas Medical Assistance Standards table, and neither of those is quoted here, so read the federal numbers as a floor rather than as the Kansas cutoff. Social Security says as much: states may effectively raise these limits by disregarding amounts or certain types of income and resources, and some have used that authority to end the resource test entirely.

QMB is the most generous program: it covers your Part B premium plus deductibles and coinsurance, and federal law bars providers from billing a QMB enrollee for that cost-sharing. The 2026 federal resource standard is $9,950 for one person and $14,910 for a couple, and Kansas applies it to countable, nonexempt resources rather than to everything you own. Neither KEESM nor Social Security's published limits spell out which resources Kansas exempts, so treat $9,950 as a test on what counts, not a ceiling on your total assets. That is not an absolute cutoff: states can disregard certain income and resources, so apply rather than rule yourself out if you are somewhat over. QI also has to be applied for again every year.

The income limits change each year when the new federal poverty level standards take effect, so confirm the current figures before ruling yourself in or out. To apply, start at KanCare, or reach out to a SHICK counselor at 1-800-860-5260, who will guide you through the process at no cost.

Extra Help for Part D

Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy, pays Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources.

  • Income limit: about $1,995 a month for an individual, $2,705 for a couple (150% of the federal poverty level), in the 48 contiguous states and DC; Alaska and Hawaii limits run higher
  • Resource limits: $16,590 for an individual, $33,100 for a married couple, or $18,090 and $36,100 if you tell Social Security you expect to use some of your resources for burial expenses
  • If you qualify for QMB, SLMB, or QI, you're automatically enrolled in Extra Help
  • QDWI, the Medicare Savings Program for people who lost premium-free Part A after returning to work, pays the Part A premium but does not carry Extra Help with it, so a QDWI enrollee has to apply to Social Security for Extra Help separately,

Apply through the Social Security Administration. Social Security's national line is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), which SSA uses to book an appointment. SHICK counselors can also help you apply, at no cost.

Medicare Enrollment Periods

Miss a deadline and you can face coverage gaps or permanent penalties. These are federal dates and apply uniformly in Kansas as in every other state.

Period Dates What you can do
Initial Enrollment 7 months around your 65th birthday Sign up for Parts A, B, and D; pick MA or Medigap
Annual Open Enrollment Oct 15 - Dec 7 Switch MA plans, move between MA and Original Medicare, change Part D
MA Open Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Switch MA plans or drop MA for Original Medicare (if already in MA)
General Enrollment Jan 1 - Mar 31 Sign up for Part B if you missed your initial window (coverage starts the first of the month after you sign up)
Medigap Open Enrollment 6 months from age 65 + Part B Buy any Medigap plan at the standard rate, no health screening

Changes made during Annual Open Enrollment take effect January 1 of the following year. If you miss your Initial Enrollment Period and no Special Enrollment Period applies, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), and Part B and Part D late penalties may apply and compound over time. Certain life events, such as losing group health coverage based on your own or a spouse's current employment, open a Special Enrollment Period outside the regular windows. COBRA and retiree coverage are not coverage based on current employment and do not open one. That window runs eight months, counted from the month the job or the coverage ends, whichever comes first, and if you're self-employed or your plan isn't available to everyone at the company, ask your insurer whether it counts as employer group health plan coverage before you delay Part B; if it doesn't, sign up at 65.

See our full Medicare enrollment periods guide for timing details, late-penalty rules, and special enrollment windows.

Free Medicare Help: Kansas SHICK

You don't have to sort this out alone, and you shouldn't pay a broker to help. Kansas SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas) is the state's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program, administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). SHICK counselors don't sell insurance and take no commissions.

A SHICK counselor can help you:

  • Understand your Medicare options and what each part covers
  • Compare Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap plans side by side
  • Apply for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help
  • Sort out billing disputes, denials, and appeals
  • Spot and report Medicare fraud through the Senior Medicare Patrol

Call 1-800-860-5260 to reach a SHICK counselor near you, or visit kdads.ks.gov for local contact information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Medicare cost in Kansas in 2026?

Most people pay $0 for Part A. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 annual deductible. Standalone Part D premiums vary by plan (the 2026 projected average runs roughly $34.50 a month), and many Medicare Advantage plans charge no extra premium. Your total depends on the plan you choose and the care you use.

When can I buy a Medigap policy in Kansas without health questions?

During your six-month Medigap open enrollment period, which starts on the same day your Part B coverage starts, whether you're 65 or older or under 65 and on Medicare because of a disability. During it you can buy any Medicare Supplement policy sold in Kansas, even if you have health problems. If you're under 65 and on Medicare because of a disability, a second open enrollment period applies when you turn 65. Outside those windows, a guaranteed issue right, such as your employer or union coverage ending or losing your Medicaid eligibility, gives you access to certain plans without medical underwriting for a set period. Otherwise, insurers can use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept you and what to charge.

How do I get help paying for Medicare in Kansas?

Apply for a Medicare Savings Program through KanCare, and apply for Extra Help with Part D through Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or ssa.gov. QMB pays the Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles and co-insurance for people whose countable income and countable, nonexempt resources are within the limits, which is not the same as your gross income or everything you own, so apply rather than rule yourself out on the raw numbers. A SHICK counselor (1-800-860-5260) can walk you through both applications for free.

Are there Medicare Advantage plans available everywhere in Kansas?

No. The Kansas City metro and Wichita have the most plan options. Rural counties in western and central Kansas typically have fewer choices. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to check what's available in your ZIP code.

What happens if I miss my Medicare enrollment deadline?

Missing your Initial Enrollment Period can trigger late penalties, and each part has its own exception. The Part B penalty is 10% added to your premium for each full 12-month period you delayed, and it lasts as long as you have Part B, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or a Medicare Savings Program. The Part D penalty is 1% of the national base beneficiary premium per month of delay, and generally does not apply if you had creditable drug coverage or you qualify for Extra Help.

Learn More

MedicareMedicare Plans by State: What Varies and What Doesn'tOriginal Medicare is the same in all 50 states. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap rules are not. See what changes by state, then open your state guide. MedicareMedicare National OverviewWhat is Medicare? A plain guide to Parts A, B, C, and D, who qualifies, 2026 costs, when to enroll, and what it doesn't cover, with help-paying options. MedicareOriginal Medicare vs. Medicare AdvantageCompare original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage on cost, networks, the $9,250 cap, and switching back. A neutral 2026 side-by-side to help you choose. MedicareMedicare Medigap GuideMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window. MedicareMedicare Part D GuideMedicare Part D in 2026: a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, no donut hole, three benefit phases, the $615 deductible, premiums, the late penalty, and Extra Help. MedicareMedicare Enrollment PeriodsWhen to sign up for Medicare without a lifelong penalty: the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, working past 65, the GEP, and what each late penalty costs.

Find personalized help with Medicare in Kansas at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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