Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (BlueKC)
By Lou Spatafore – Updated Oct 13, 2023
Reviewed by Whitney Kline – Fact checked by Christine Corsini
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City offers Bronze and Gold plans that comply with the Affordable Care Act.
BlueKC is the largest locally-based health insurance company in the Kansas City Area. They offer a number of metal-tier ACA health insurance plans to residents of Kansas City. In addition, they also offer options for dental, travel insurance, and more.
Live in Kansas City and need help signing up for a health plan? Click here to set up a time to chat with one of our Personal Benefits Advisors.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City: BlueKC Health Plans
Choice Bronze 8700
The Choice Bronze plan utilizes a network of Spira Care Centers to make routine care more affordable.
- $0 doctor office visits if you use a Spira Care Center
- $0 routine digital x-rays and lab services
- Free telehealth services through the MyBlueKC App
Saver Bronze 6500
Saver Bronze is BlueKC’s HSA-eligible health plan, with a good balance of monthly premium to annual deductible.
- HSA-eligible health plan
- Higher deductible than Choice Bronze
- In-network preventive care services including mammograms, flu shots, and more for $0
Community Gold 1500
The Community Gold plan has a higher premium and a lower deductible, as well a larger provider network than the other plans.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City: BlueKC Additional Benefits
BlueKC members have access to a number of important member benefits that come with the cost of the plan.
Exclusive Access to Spira Care Centers
BlueKC ACA plans let members use 8 different Spira CareCenter locations for low or even free primary care services.
Personal Care Guides
Signing up with BlueKC will get you a personal Care Guide, who can help you coordinate your care, explain your benefits, and support your health goals.
Mindful by BlueKC
A new and enhanced behavioral health program designed to help members deal with depression, stress, anxiety, substance abuse, and more.
MyBlueKC App
The MyBlueKC App can provide free mental health and telehealth services to all members. This is also a place where you can search providers, research costs, and view medical claims.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City FAQs
Q: Is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City the Same as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas?
A: No. They are separate entities. BCBS Kansas City is a managed care network that specifically operates the Kansas City metro area, and is not statewide either in Missouri or Kansas.
If you’re looking for the statewide BCBS licensee in Kansas, you can find them at a different website: www.bcbsks.com.
Q: What health insurance products does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City offer?
A:The flagship health insurance products for Blue Cross/Blue Shield Kansas City are its “KC Blue” plans. Like other Affordable Care Act-qualified plans, KC Blue plans come in three tiers:
- Bronze (covers approximately 60% of covered medical costs),
- Silver (covers approximately 70% of covered medical costs),
- Gold (covers approximately 80% of covered costs).
Each of these KC Blue plans are ACA-qualified major medical insurance policies sold over the state health insurance exchanges in Missouri and Kansas. However, you can also buy them via an insurance agent.
Depending on your income and the size of your family, KC Blue plans may qualify for a subsidy under the Affordable Care Act.
Q: When Can I Enroll in a BlueKC Plan?
A: You can enroll during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period, which runs from November 1st through January 15th.
You may also enroll in a KC Blue Plan outside of the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period if you have a qualifying life event that qualifies you for a special enrollment period.
Examples of qualifying life events include the marriage, divorce, widow(er)hood, job loss resulting in the cancellation of your group insurance plan, relocation, or the birth or adoption of a child.
These events result in a 60-day special enrollment period that will allow you to enroll outside the normal open enrollment period.
If you miss open enrollment, and you don’t qualify for a special enrollment period, you will probably have to wait until the next open enrollment period in November before you can join, with an effective date not earlier than 1 January.
If you are in this situation and need to get some kind of protection in place, you may consider a healthsharing plan, which does not have a restricted open enrollment period. You can sign up for healthsharing at any time.
For more information on healthsharing, click here.
Q: Does BlueKC Cover Mental Health Care?
A:Yes. The Affordable Care Act requires qualifying plans to include mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment as part of the minimum essential coverages required under the Act.
The Mindful by Blue KC program includes a wide variety of mental health services, including:
- well-being resources
- online therapy,
- online self-guided tools
- managed behavioral health
- expedited access network for members in crisis,
- virtual care appointments.
KC Blue plans also include coverage for rehab and habilitative services designed to integrate people with mental and behavioral health issues into the workforce and society at large.
Q: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Offer Group Health Insurance Plans for Businesses?
A: Yes. BCBS Kansas City offers solutions for both small and large employers, including ACA-qualified group health insurance plans as well as fully-insured health insurance plans designed for larger employers.
Q: What is a Spira Care Center?
A: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City is offering plans with exclusive access to Spira Care Centers.
These innovative health care centers offer a variety of primary care services, including routine preventative care, chronic condition management, sick care, behavioral health consultations, health coaching sessions, a select number of generic prescriptions filled on site, routine lab draws, and digital x-rays.
BCBS members can access Spira Care Centers and receive these health care services at little or no cost, over and above their plan’s premiums.
Q: Where are the Spira Care Centers?
A: As of this writing, there are eight Spira Care Centers, located in Crossroads, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, Liberty, Olathe, Shawnee, Tiffany Springs, and Wyandotte.
Q: If I use a Spira Care Center, can I keep my family doctor?
A: Yes. As long as your doctor is within the larger BCBS network, you can keep using your family or primary care doctor(s). All BCBS plan members have access to all the providers in the network.
Q: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City include Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans?
A: Yes. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City offers a variety of options for Medicare beneficiaries. For help with Medicare-related inquiries, including Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage plans, you should visit our sister website, www.MedigapAdvisors.com.
The best thing to do is take advantage of a free individual consultation and analysis by one of our highly-trained Personal Benefits Managers. So you can be sure you’re picking the very best possible plan for your individual situation.
Just click here, select your state, and pick an appointment time and date that works for you.
Q: How Can I Get Help Enrolling in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Plan?
A:To get help enrolling in any Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City plan – or any other health insurance or healthsharing plan for that matter, click here, select your state, and choose an appointment time.
There’s never any charge for our services, and no one can offer lower prices on any plans or carriers we represent.
So there’s no downside to calling and getting professional help from a health insurance expert!
Need a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City (BlueKC) Health Insurance Plan?
You can enroll in a BlueKC health insurance plan during Open Enrollment, which is every year from October 15th to December 7th. (Some life events can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period… Click here to learn more).
Need a health plan right away? Traditional health insurance isn’t the only option. Low-cost alternatives are available that you can get any time of year.
Click here to get in touch with one of our Personal Benefits Managers for a free consultation.
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