Choose Your Health Insurance

September 23, 2024

Great Bend, Kan. – Now is the time when most health insurance plans offer open enrollment for healthcare coverage in the next calendar year. Whether you choose a plan offered by your employer or select one on the open marketplace, it’s important to understand whether the healthcare clinicians you see or want to see are in network for that plan. If not, you’ll either have to pay more to see your preferred healthcare provider or transition your care to a clinician who is in your plan.

If seeing healthcare professionals 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 healthcare team members 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

• University of Kansas Great Bend

  
  

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.

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Questions are common regarding the differences between original Medicare plans and Medicare Advantage plans. If you’re trying to decide between the two, these comparisons from the Kansas Hospital Association may be helpful:

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 othermedical 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% of 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.

Visit KHA for more resources about original Medicare versus Medicare Advantage.

Note, the health system is in network for Humana plans.

Enroll 365 can help you choose a plan.

888-611-3816

If your insurance changes

You can update your information in MyChart from the comfort of home in advance of any visit (in the main menu, choose Insurance Summary and follow the prompts), by following the prompts to complete the advance check-in process that activates 7 days before a scheduled visit, by calling 913-588-1227 any time, or by sharing your information upon check-in for a visit.

If you have questions about coverage, you can contact your insurance carrier directly for detailed information about your plan. Our financial advisers are also happy to help you. In Great Bend, call 620-791-5054 or email GBC-FinancialCounselor@KUMC.edu.