New contracts shake up KanCare: One insurance company out and a new one in [View all]

The state of Kansas announced new contracts Friday for its $3 billion privatized Medicaid program, KanCare, jettisoning one of the three insurance companies that have run the program since former Gov. Sam Brownback started it five years ago.

The new contracts, which start Jan. 1, went to Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Sunflower State Health Plan, a division of Centene.

Aetna will replace Amerigroup, which applied for another contract but didn't get one.

The 124,357 Kansans who are enrolled in an Amerigroup KanCare plan will stay with that plan until the end of the year. But during the open enrollment period, which begins in October, they will have to choose a new plan for 2019. Consumers with questions about the change can call 785-766-9012.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article213655139.html