KanCare & Managed Care Organizations

Kansas has contracts with three Managed Care Organizations (known as “MCOs) to help with health care and payment of services.  When you are approved for KanCare, you may choose from one of these three plans:  

1. Aetna Better Health of Kansas

2. Sunflower Health Plan

3. United Healthcare Community Plan.   

If you received Medicaid in Kansas before 2013, all benefits are now provided through the three plans under KanCare.   You can also change to a different plan during the annual open enrollment period.  Open enrollment is one year from the day you were first enrolled in KanCare.

KanCare is the name for the Medicaid program for the state of Kansas.   The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) are responsible for managing the KanCare program.

KDHE oversees the three insurance companies that provide medical coverage and benefits under KanCare.  KDADS manages the Medicaid waiver programs for disability services, mental health care, substance abuse treatment and operation of the state hospitals.

All plans have medical coverage including:

• Doctor appointments,

• Admission to hospitals,

• Dental care,

• Vision coverage,

• Pharmacy services,

• Behavioral health care, and

• Transportation when necessary.

Medical coverage may also include: smoking cessation, weight reduction classes and support to pregnant women and new mothers following birth of a child.  All services offered through the State’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers are part of KanCare.