Increase Access to Care

What is KanCare Expansion? 

Our state Medicaid program, KanCare, provides health insurance coverage for some disabled, elderly, and low-income Kansans. Under current eligibility requirements, most adults - even those with very low-income - do not qualify for health insurance coverage through KanCare. In 2010, states were given the opportunity to accept funding from the federal government to increase access to this health coverage, but Kansas opted out creating what is referred to as the "coverage gap"/ There are about 150,000 Kansans who make too little money to be eligible for help paying for private insurance, but are also ineligible for insurance through KanCare. Most of these Kansans are employed and many work multiple jobs to provide for families, but are not offered insurance coverage through their employers. 

By expanding the eligibility for KanCare, the legislature could provide health insurance coverage to these 150,000 hardworking uninsured people in our state. 

Why does KanCare Expansion matter to ACS CAN? 

For Kansans facing cancer, not having health insurance is a life or death situation. Health insurance through Medicaid allows Kansans to detect cancer early and access the treatments needed to save their lives. 

What are the other benefits of expanding KanCare? 

• KanCare expansion will create jobs - 3,500 to 4,000 new jobs in the next 5 years
• It protects access to care, especially in rural areas. Insuring more patients strengthens our rural hospitals
• It helps uninsured military veterans and their families who do not automatically quality for health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs 

How can the Kansas legislature address to coverage gap in our state? 

The Kansas legislature can pass legislation to expand KanCare during the 2022 legislative session starting in January. 

Get involved to make Medicaid a priority. Sign the petition!