Month: September 2016

Kansans’ marketplace choices completed for 2017 coverage

by Andy Marso, KHI News Service

Kansans will get to choose between two insurance companies when open enrollment begins Nov. 1 for 2017 coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s online marketplace.

But for Kansans outside the Kansas City metropolitan area, one company will offer only HMO plans that restrict coverage to in-network providers.

The Kansas Insurance Department published an overview of the marketplace choices this week.

A new insurer, Minnesota-based Medica, has entered the Kansas market and will sell seven traditional health insurance plans — with varying premiums and levels of coverage — in all counties.

Another Minnesota-based company, UnitedHealthcare, pulled out of the market after one year.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City remains in the market and will sell 11 plans in Johnson County and Wyandotte County. It will offer traditional coverage as well as “exclusive provider organization,” or EPO, plans that are like HMO plans in that they can restrict coverage to in-network care and require a “gatekeeper” to approve coverage prior to care.

The Legislature and Gov. Sam Brownback approved the sale of EPO plans this year.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Kansas Solutions will remain in the ACA marketplace and sell plans in the state’s other 103 counties, but all five of its offerings will be HMO plans.

Kansans who purchase plans through the online ACA marketplace, healthcare.gov, may be eligible for federal subsidies to decrease premiums based on their incomes.

Most Kansans get health insurance through their employer, a family member or government programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

According to the insurance department, only 6 percent of the state’s residents were covered in 2016 by individual health insurance plans like the ones offered on the marketplace.

The nonprofit KHI News Service is an editorially independent initiative of the Kansas Health Institute and a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor reporting collaboration. All stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to KHI.org when a story is reposted online.

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KCKCC soccer teams open big home stand Friday; women win 2-1

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

A 2-1 winner at Cowley College in Arkansas City Tuesday, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women’s soccer team returns home Friday for the first of three straight home matches.

The Lady Blue Devils host Coffeyville Friday, Neosho County Tuesday and Allen County a week from Friday. All three start at 5 p.m. and will be followed by men’s Jayhawk Conference matches at 7:30 p.m. In addition, the KCKCC men host South Suburban Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Deadlocked 0-0 at Cowley, the Blue Devils jumped to a 2-0 lead early in the second half and then turned back a late Cowley rally.

Emilie Lutz, a freshman forward from Toronto, scored her first goal of the season on an assist from Liz Falcon of J.C. Harmon and then assisted freshman midfielder Marivel Gomez on her first goal that turned out to be the game-winner.

“Marivel Gomez had a breakout performance, nearly scoring three goals,” said KCKCC Shawn Uhlenhake.

The win was the second in five Jayhawk Conference matches for the Lady Blue Devils, who have allowed the third fewest goal in the conference.

“Defensively, we’ve been solid,” Uhlenhake said. “Brenna Stoffle and Veronica Saminego have started every game at center back and Hannah Bishop every game in goal.”

New attorneys to be sworn in Sept. 30

One Wyandotte County resident is on the list of attorneys who will be sworn in on Friday, Sept. 30, in Topeka.

Alex Scott Gilmore, Kansas City, Kan., is listed among the attorneys who successfully applied to the Kansas bar examination in July.

The swearing-in ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Topeka Performing Arts Center, Topeka, Kan.

Chief Lawton Nuss will preside over the Kansas Supreme Court and Judge Daniel Crabtree will represent the U.S. District Court at the ceremony.

Doug Shima, clerk of the Kansas Supreme Court, will administer the state oath and Timothy O’Brien, clerk for the U.S. District Court, will administer the federal oath.

Kevin F. Mitchelson and Donald N. Peterson II, the chair and vice chair of the Kansas Board of Law Examiners, will present the new attorneys to the court.