Kansas

According to America’s Health Rankings, a compilation of reports by the United Health Foundation, Kansas has fewer poor physical and mental health days in a month than many states. Given its relatively low population density, Kansas got 19th place for best air quality in America’s Health Rankings. The lack of physical activity among the state’s adults dropped from 26.8% to 22.9% in 2012.

Obesity affected 29.8% of Kansas adults in 2013, making it an important health concern. This figure amounts to 630,000 obese individuals. The state ranked 27th in fewest reports of fatalities caused by cardiovascular disease. Although the incidence of smoking dropped by 2.6% from 2012 to 2013, over 400,000 adult residents still smoke tobacco frequently.

Approximately 17% of Kansas adults aged 18 and up engaged in binge drinking in 2011, according to a report by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The report shows the incidence of binge drinking in 23.1% of men, twice the percentage seen in women. The binge drinking rate among female adult residents of Kansas equaled 11.2%.

Kansas ranked 17th among states for addressing long-term care needs of older adults, based on an assessment by AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons. The state had some success in helping its senior residents live independently. In fact, over 414,000 Kansas residents provide unpaid home-based care to their loved ones.

 

Cost of Care

Below are the average daily cost* of long-term care services in Kansas.

City Nursing Facility1 Assisted Living1 Adult Day Care2 Home Health Aide3
Kansas City $213 N/A $50 $120
Topeka $218 $138 $78 $108
Wichita $181 $110 $82 $114

Notes:

*Costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
1Daily average for a private room.
2Based on five days of care per week.
3Based on six hours of care per day, five days per week.

 

Insurance Options

Citizens of Kansas can be insured for long-term care through TransCare III, a more recent LTC insurance product by Transamerica. Available for individuals and certain associations, TransCare III has a higher maximum daily benefit, an option for a longer elimination period, and several policy riders. Its couples discount increased by as much as 30%, and can be used by couples who differ in insurance benefits. Transamerica began selling this product in Kansas on September 10, 2013.

Mutual of Omaha’s LTCI product called MutualCare Solutions officially became a Long-Term Care Partnership policy on October 21, 2013. In Kansas, all compound inflation options in Partnership MutualCare Solutions come in a range between 1% and 5%.

The Kansas Long-Term Care Partnership Program became effective on April 1, 2007. State residents can also buy LTCI policies from Bankers Life, Country Life, Genworth, John Hancock, Massachusetts Mutual, MedAmerica, New York Life, Northwestern, and State Farm.

 

State Long-Term Care Programs

Adults with disabilities, or those 65 years of age and up, can qualify for Medicare Part A services, which include skilled nursing facility care and home health care. Coverage for therapy and other medical services can be found in Part B. Older adults in Kansas can find the answers for their inquiries about Medicare through the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK).

Kansas residents get Medicaid coverage through the federally-facilitated Marketplace. The state did not approve Medicaid expansion for more low-income adults, which was set to begin in 2014. Medicaid beneficiaries can also receive health services from KanCare, the state’s program for managed care.

Meanwhile, the MediKan program helps individuals with disabilities who cannot qualify under Medicaid through limited services.

 

More Resources

To get more specific information regarding long-term care services and insurance options in Kansas, please check the following websites:

Department for Aging and Disability Services

Offers resource links and directories that inform about long-term care.

Kansas Health Care Association

Locates nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and residential care centers in the state.

Central Kansas Cooperative Extension

Provides helpful resources for elder financial abuse and caregiving.

 

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