Medicare Supplement

Shopping for Medigap in Wichita? Here's how the plan letters actually line up in Kansas

If you live in Wichita and you're pairing Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement policy — better known as Medigap — the first thing to know is that the coverage itself is set by the federal government, not by the insurer's marketing. In Kansas, Medigap comes in a fixed menu of "plan letters," and a Plan G is a Plan G no matter whose name is on the envelope. What changes from company to company is the price and the customer service, not the benefits inside the letter.

What Medigap is (and isn't) in Wichita

Medigap is private insurance that fills in some of the out-of-pocket costs Original Medicare leaves behind — things like the Part A hospital deductible, Part B coinsurance, and extra hospital days. It rides alongside Original Medicare. It is not Medicare Advantage, and you cannot use both at the same time.

Medigap also does not cover prescription drugs. If you want drug coverage, you pair your Medigap policy with a stand-alone Part D plan. Together, that's the classic "Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D" setup many Wichita retirees use.

The plan letters you can buy in Kansas today

Kansas follows the federal standardized Medigap chart, so the same lettered plans sold nationwide are sold here. If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, the letters open to you are:

• Plan A
• Plan B
• Plan D
• Plan G
• High-deductible Plan G
• Plan K
• Plan L
• Plan M
• Plan N

Plans C and F are still available, but only if you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020. That's a federal rule, not a Kansas quirk.

Every insurer that sells a given letter has to include the same core benefits inside that letter. So when you compare, you're really comparing price, rate history, and the insurer's reputation — not the benefits themselves.

How Medigap pairs with Part D in 2026

Because Medigap doesn't include drugs, your Part D plan is a separate decision. A few 2026 program facts worth keeping in mind as you shop:

• Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs in 2026.
• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments if you choose.
• Higher-income enrollees pay an IRMAA surcharge on Part B and Part D; for a single filer in 2026, that starts above $109,000 in income.

Part D changes each year, so even if your Medigap policy stays the same, it's worth re-checking your drug plan during the Annual Enrollment Period from October 15 to December 7.

The Kansas rules that shape your choice

Wichita is in Sedgwick County, and Medigap in Sedgwick County follows Kansas state insurance rules. A few things to keep in mind:

Your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period is the strongest window. It starts the first month you're 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During this window, insurers must sell you any Medigap policy they offer, at their best available rate for your age, without asking about your health.

Outside that window, medical underwriting usually applies. That means the insurer can look at your health history and either charge more or decline you, unless you qualify for a federal guaranteed-issue right (for example, if a plan you had is ending).

Kansas may offer additional protections beyond federal law. State rules can change, so confirm your current rights with the Kansas Insurance Department or the state SHIP — called SHICK in Kansas — before you switch policies.

How the premium is priced matters. Medigap policies can be priced by "issue age," "attained age," or "community rating." Two policies with the same letter can behave very differently over time depending on the pricing method, so ask before you sign.

How to find the insurers that sell each letter here

There is no single public list of every Medigap insurer in Kansas that we can hand you. Instead, use the tools built for exactly this:

• Medicare.gov Medigap policy search. Enter your Wichita ZIP code to see the companies licensed to sell each letter to you.
• Kansas Insurance Department's Medigap rate guide. This is published for consumers and shows companies and rate information side by side.
• SHICK (Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas). This is the state's SHIP — free, unbiased, one-on-one counseling for Medicare questions. They will not sell you anything.

The table below lists every plan letter available to newly eligible enrollees in Kansas, which is your starting menu.