Kansas consumers making choices on individual health insurance for 2018 have approximately one month left to make their selections, according to Ken Selzer, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
The shorter open enrollment period for the 2018 plan year began Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15, 2017. The federal government established the time period, and it applies to plans sold on and off the federal online marketplace.
“It is important to understand how the policy you purchase works from a network perspective,” Commissioner Selzer said. “Not all plans are available in all Kansas counties, although Kansas does have two providers in each county, unlike many other surrounding states. Talk to your doctors, other providers or your insurance company to find out if specific medical providers are part of the insurance health plan network you choose. This could also apply to hospitals and other providers such as labs, specialty physicians or facilities.”
The Kansas Insurance Department does not have the statutory authority to require insurance companies and providers to contract with each other or to make other specific business decisions, such as what type of policies to sell. The federal government established the minimum network requirements.
For more information, read the department’s “2018: Overview of the Health Insurance Market in Kansas,” which is located on the department’s website at http://www.ksinsurance.org/documents/healthlife/health/KID-Issue-Brief.pdf.