August 22, 2025
Kansas City, Kan. — We’re approaching the time that most health insurance plans offer open enrollment for healthcare coverage for the next calendar year.
Whether you choose a plan offered by your employer or select one from the open marketplace, it’s important to understand whether the providers you want to see are in network for the plan you choose. If not, you may have to pay more to see your preferred provider or transition your care to someone else.
See below for details on:
- Plans on the open marketplace
- Plans with private groups, such as employers
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members
- Patients in the Great Bend, Kansas, area
- Medicare Advantage in the Great Bend, Kansas, area
- Patients of The University of Kansas Cancer Center
- If your insurance changes
- Need support?
Plans on the open marketplace
On the open marketplace, a provision of the Affordable Care Act, you’ll find health system providers included in the following plans.
- Aetna CareLink
Coverage for members in Kansas and Missouri. - BCBS Kansas
Coverage for members who live in all 101 counties in Kansas excluding Johnson and Wyandotte counties. The health system is in network except for KU MedWest Ambulatory Surgery Center services. - Sunflower or Home State/Ambetter
Coverage for members in Kansas and Missouri (counties surrounding the metro area). - Oscar
Coverage for members in Kansas and Missouri (counties surrounding the metro area). - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City/Blue Select
Coverage for members in metro area. - UHC Exchange
Coverage for members in Kansas and Missouri.
To enroll, visit HealthCare.gov during the open enrollment period: November 1, 2025-January 15, 2026. Enroll by December 15 for coverage to begin January 1. Enroll by January 15 for coverage to begin February 1.
Learn more about the health insurance marketplace.
Do you need help choosing a plan? We recommend Enroll 365. Call 888-611-3816.
Plans with private groups, such as employers
The University of Kansas Health System is in network for most major plans offered through employers. Check your plan’s list of network providers to see if your doctors and other providers are in the network. To see the plans we participate in, review this list.
Note, since 2024’s open enrollment period, the health system has become:
- Out of network for Multiplan insurance plans.
- In network for Centrus Health Direct.
Please be aware insurance plan changes are not unusual and occur regularly. We will always do our best to inform our staff, referring providers and patients of changes that may affect care, allowing as much time as possible to make alternate coverage choices.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members
An important note for our Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage patients: While Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) discontinued its Medicare Advantage product as of January 1, 2025, the health system will continue accepting and treating Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage patients, including those from out of state, as in-network through the end of 2026 and possibly beyond. Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members can schedule and receive care as in-network at any health system location at least through 2026.
Patients in the Great Bend, Kansas, area
If seeing providers at The University of Kansas Health System in Great Bend is important to you, please be aware that we are in network for these health plans:
- Medicare:
- Traditional Medicare
- Humana Medicare
- Medicaid
- Kansas Medicaid
- Centene Sunflower Medicaid
- Aetna Medicaid (replaced by Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicaid in 2025)
- United Healthcare Medicaid
If you are considering a plan other than those listed here, we encourage you to visit the plan’s website or call to ensure your providers are in network for the plan you choose. You’ll find our Great Bend entities legally listed in insurance plans as:
- UKHS GB LLC.
- UKHS Great Bend Medical Pavilion
- UKHS Great Bend St. Rose Medical Pavilion
- UKHS Great Bend Family Medicine
Please be aware this is different from how The University of Kansas Health System’s name is listed on insurance plans providing coverage in the Kansas City area.
Medicare Advantage in the Great Bend, Kansas, area
If you are considering Medicare Advantage and receiving care with your provider at Great Bend Campus is important to you, be aware that, in Great Bend, we are in-network for all original Medicare plans and only one Medicare Advantage plan: Humana. Choosing other Medicare Advantage plans may result in care delays or reduced coverage at our health system, or a need to leave the area to receive care.
We often field questions about the differences between original Medicare plans and Medicare Advantage plans. According to a Kansas Hospital Association (KHA) presentation titled “Know Your Facts: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage”:
- Original Medicare is a health plan that has two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) covers in-patient hospital and skilled nursing care, and Part B (medical insurance) covers physician services. Original Medicare is managed by the federal government. This is the typical Medicare insurance most people are familiar with.
- Medicare Advantage is a health plan called Part C and is offered by private insurance companies as an alternative to Original Medicare. It replaces and cancels your Original Medicare plan if you choose this option.
KHA outlines these differences:
| Original Medicare | Medicare Advantage |
| See any provider that accepts original Medicare. No referrals needed. | Designated primary care physician directs your care. Referrals needed to see other medical professionals. |
| Most medical services are covered. Routine dental, vision and hearing care are not. | Receive all medical services covered by Original Medicare. Some plans may also include dental, vision, hearing and gym memberships. |
| Only about 1% physicians do not participate in the Original Medicare Network. You can choose to see almost any physician and access care across the US. | Based on limited networks that are usually self-contained. |
| You may pay a premium, deductible and coinsurance, but there are usually no other cost surprises. | There is a risk of surprise out-of-pocket costs that can quickly build up if you get sick. |
| Rarely requires authorizations and approvals for any medical care. | Requires approvals before physicians can provide services, including inpatient admissions, skilled care stays, home health, outpatient surgery, ambulance transport, medical equipment, laboratory and radiology services, dental care and vision care. |
Patients of The University of Kansas Cancer Center
Insurance plan changes may require new pre-authorizations before you can receive important care. If your insurance will change in the upcoming calendar year – or anytime you experience employment changes or other life events – please let us know immediately. Contact your cancer center financial advisor or call 913-588-2659. Leave a confidential voicemail message with your new insurance details and expect a call back within 2 business days. When you notify us of anticipated insurance changes, we can begin securing insurance approvals and prevent delays in your care.
If your insurance changes
You can update your insurance information in MyChart from the comfort of home. In the main MyChart menu, choose Insurance Summary and follow the prompts to update your insurance information. You can also update your insurance information prior to a visit by following the prompts to begin check-in online 7 days before a scheduled appointment.
Need support?
If you have questions about your coverage, you can contact your insurance carrier directly for detailed information about your plan.
The health system’s financial services representatives will also be happy to help you.
- In greater Kansas City, call 913-588-7850 or email FinancialCounselor@KUMC.edu.
- In Great Bend, call 620-791-5054 or email GBC-FinancialCounselor@KUMC.edu.