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Questions to consider when selecting your health care plan

Options include:

The Health Insurance Exchange at www.healthcare.gov was designed as a one-stop shop to find, compare and buy private health insurance options.

Neither Missouri nor Kansas have their own state exchange, so you'll find your options on the federal Health Insurance Exchange at www.healthcare.gov.

Open enrollment (enrollment for anyone) is Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 annually, but you may enroll year-round if:

  • You experience certain life events like:
    • Getting married
    • Having a baby/ adopting a child 
    • Moving to a new area
    • Losing health coverage

These may qualify you for a special enrollment period. You can see if you qualify for any of these at www.healthcare.gov/screener/.

More details and updated dates available at www.healthcare.gov/marketplace-deadlines.

When choosing any plan, even a plan purchased through your employer or outside of the Exchange, you should always make sure Children's Mercy is an in-network provider so that your child can continue care or receive care at Children's Mercy in the future. 

Those plans that exclude essential providers like Children's Mercy have two deductibles: One for services at in-network providers and one for services at out-of-network providers. Out-of-pocket costs could be higher if your child visits a provider who is out-of-network with your insurance plan.

When comparing, consider these things:

  • What is covered?
  • What is my monthly cost?
  • What is my deductible?
  • What is my coinsurance and copay?
  • Which providers can I see with this plan?/ Which providers are in-network with this plan?
  • Annual out-of-pocket maximum for in-network services and annual out-of-pocket maximum for out-of-network services?

You can contact your insurance plan or visit the links above for a listing of in-network insurance plans with Children's Mercy. 

You are the best advocate for your child. We encourage you to call the Department of Insurance (DOI) with concerns regarding the availability of providers within your insurance plan’s network, the timeframe for getting a response to your inquiry(ies), or anything else about your health insurance. The DOI oversees the insurance industry and protects you as an insurance consumer.

We continue to negotiate with insurance plans. Despite our best efforts, we have found that some plans have chosen not to contract with us.

Our hope is that all insurance plans will cover Children's Mercy, especially since many services are not provided elsewhere in the region, so we can serve your child and all children in Kansas and Missouri.

Contact your employer or insurance plan and tell them you think Children's Mercy is an essential provider for any health plan network.

Please contact our financial counselors at (816) 234-3567  and they can help.

Please contact our financial counselors at (816) 234-3567 and they can help.

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