Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, this fact sheet details health insurance coverage for Kansans in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, by congressional district and age group. The uninsured rate varied from a low of 7.9 percent in the 2nd Congressional District to a high of 10.3 percent in the 4th District. The statewide rate was 9.2 percent, representing 262,392 uninsured Kansans.
Read MoreIf you live in Kansas, there is a good chance you have had to pay a medical bill that you thought would be covered by insurance. What causes these “surprise” medical bills and why are consumers in Kansas more likely to receive them than consumers in most other states? What are policymakers around the country doing to protect consumers? Register now for this virtual event to learn more about this issue and to hear from a panel of experts who will discuss what can be done to protect consumers from surprise medical bills.
Read MoreWhy does health care cost Americans so much? What role do providers, insurers and patients play in the cost of care? On September 30, the Kansas Health Institute hosted a virtual event that explored different perspectives on these questions and strategies for responding to rising costs.
Read MoreHow does the maze of retail prescription drug pricing and distribution work in the United States? What are the implications for consumers and payers attempting to navigate it? On Sept. 17, 2020, the Kansas Health Institute held a virtual event to explore these issues and help shed light on the complex system and the options state policymakers across the country are using to rein in costs. Watch the video and learn more in the accompanying issue brief.
Read MoreIn 2018, uninsured rates in Kansas varied widely by county, region and population density. Understanding the health insurance landscape in Kansas prior to COVID-19 could help policymakers as they work to mitigate the health and economic consequences of the pandemic. Learn more in our new series of fact sheets.
Read MoreIn the United States, health insurance coverage is often tied to employment. Before COVID-19 affected the Kansas economy, employment-based insurance was the most common source of coverage. Now, many Kansans have lost their jobs and possibly their health insurance coverage. Understanding the insurance landscape in Kansas prior to COVID-19 might help anticipate what changes in coverage are on the horizon. Learn more in our new report, Annual Insurance Update 2020: Health Insurance in Kansas.
Read MoreDuring the latest open enrollment period at the end of 2019, 85,837 Kansans selected or were automatically re-enrolled in a health insurance plan through the federally facilitated marketplace. That is 4,156 fewer than the previous year and a 15 percent drop from the 101,555 who selected a plan in 2016.
Read MoreOn December 18, 2019, three judges from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans issued a decision in the case of Texas v. United States (Texas) and held that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. The courts are now further considering that question and also the much broader question of whether the entire ACA should be declared unconstitutional.
Read MoreThis is the seventh year of open enrollment for the Kansas health insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The more than 80,000 Kansans who are likely to buy insurance on the marketplace will find that: there are more choices of plans available for 2020; premiums are relatively stable compared to last year; and out-of-pocket costs have gone up again. How much are monthly premiums in different areas of the state? And how could Advance Premium Tax Credits and other assistance reduce costs for low- to middle-income Kansans? Find the answers to these and other important questions in our new brief, 2020 Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace.
Read MoreIn 2018, nearly 1.8 million Kansans were covered by private insurance, almost 830,000 were covered by public insurance and nearly 250,000 were uninsured. Medicaid expansion is a current topic of much discussion in Kansas. If Medicaid were expanded in 2018, how many low-income, uninsured Kansas adults would have become newly eligible for coverage? How many uninsured adults might already have qualified for subsidies to purchase health insurance on the Kansas marketplace? Find these and other answers in KHI's latest Infographic, Health Insurance in Kansas 2018.
Read More
Watch for upcoming events about health policy issues or check out materials and recordings from past events.
Legislative activity highlights with a specific focus on health policy related issues.
Blog explaining how important national news and developments are relevant to Kansas and Kansans.