KanCare: Income Limits, Eligibility and How to Apply
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KanCare is Kansas's Medicaid program, and it is run by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Health Care Finance. Kansas is one of ten states that have not adopted the Affordable Care Act expansion, which is the single most important fact about Medicaid here: adults without dependent children generally cannot qualify, whatever they earn. Children are covered through KanCare CHIP, and the application is at www.kancare.ks.gov/consumers/apply-for-kancare or 800-792-4884. Every figure below is dated 2026-09-23.
| Program | KanCare |
|---|---|
| Children | KanCare CHIP |
| Agency | Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Division of Health Care Finance |
| Apply | www.kancare.ks.gov/consumers/apply-for-kancare · 800-792-4884 |
| Expansion | No |
Who qualifies in Kansas
Without the expansion, Kansas Medicaid covers the groups federal law has always required and the ones the state has chosen to add: children under 19 (through KanCare and KanCare CHIP), pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives at low incomes set by the state, people 65 and over, and people with disabilities, the last two with an asset test. There is no door for an adult without dependent children who is neither disabled nor 65, no matter how low the income.
That gap has a floor and a ceiling. Marketplace plans with premium tax credits begin at 100% of the poverty guideline, $15,960 a year for one person and $33,000 for four in 2026, and at that level the premium for a benchmark plan is close to zero. Below it, in Kansas, an adult without children has neither Medicaid nor a subsidy. Health centers on a sliding fee and hospital financial assistance policies are the fallback; our emergency help page lists both.
| Household size | 100% of poverty, 2026 (marketplace subsidy floor) | 138% (what expansion would cover) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $22,025 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $29,863 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $37,702 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $45,540 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $53,378 |
How Kansas compares
Kansas is one of ten states without the expansion, with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Because there is no expansion group, the 2027 work requirement and six-month renewals largely pass it by. The program's own name, KanCare, is what appears on cards and letters; "Medicaid" may not appear at all, which confuses people who move here.
How to apply for KanCare
- Apply online at www.kancare.ks.gov/consumers/apply-for-kancare, or call 800-792-4884. HealthCare.gov also takes Medicaid applications and forwards them to Kansas. There is no enrollment period; any day works.
- Report this month's income.
A KanCare case also qualifies you for a free phone (Kansas carriers, paperwork) and shares documents with Kansas SNAP.
What changes in Kansas
With no expansion group, the work requirement and six-month renewals in the 2025 law do not reach Kansas. The nationwide changes are on the hub with CMS sources.
Kansas specifics
- Kansas has not expanded; KanCare covers children, pregnant women, parents at low incomes, seniors and people with disabilities through managed care plans.
- Offices serve Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City and every county; hospitals and health centers also employ enrollment assisters.
Whether KanCare pays for dental or weight-loss drugs is Kansas's choice; see does Medicaid cover.
Common questions
What is the Medicaid income limit in Kansas for 2026?
There is no single limit, because Kansas has not adopted the expansion. Children qualify through KanCare and KanCare CHIP at incomes well above poverty, pregnant women at higher incomes still, and parents only at very low incomes set by the state. Adults without dependent children who are not disabled or over 65 generally cannot qualify at any income. Above the state's limits, marketplace plans with premium tax credits start at 100% of poverty, $15,960 a year for one person.
Does Kansas have a Medicaid work requirement?
No. The federal work requirement applies only to the expansion group, and Kansas has none.
Sources
- KanCare: state program page
- HHS: 2026 poverty guidelines
- HealthCare.gov: Medicaid expansion and you (138%)
- Federal Register: community engagement interim final rule (June 3, 2026)
- CMS: 2025 law section-by-section overview
- KFF: status of state Medicaid expansion decisions (not an official source)
Gov-Grants.org is an independent guide, not a carrier and not a government agency. We never charge fees, and every fact above links to its source with the date we checked it. Program details change; confirm on the official site before applying.