Insurance Plans and Coverage Types Accepted

In-Network

• Aetna CVS Health
• BlueKC (BlueSelect Plus & Preferred Care Blue)
• BCBS Kansas BlueChoice
• Cigna Simple Choice (Not a 2024 Exchange Option) 
• Medica (Medica Connect, Medica with MU HealthCare, & Select by Medica) 

Out-of-Network

• Ambetter from Home State Health (Missouri) 
• Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan (Kansas)
• Balance by Medica (offered in SW MO)
• Blue KC BlueSelect
• Cox Health (offered in SW MO only)
• Oscar Health
• United Healthcare
• US Health and Life - Ascension Personalized Care (offered in Wichita market)
• Well First by Medica (offered in St. Louis)

Commercial

• Aetna
  • CareLink 
• American Healthcare Alliance
• Anthem BCBS of Missouri (utilizing BlueKC network)
• Ascension (utilizing BlueKC network)
  • Ascension Personalized Care EPO (Out-of-Network)
• BlueKC
  • Blue Access (Out-of-Network)
  • BlueCard PPO (plans with PPO suitcase on ID card)
  • BlueSelect (Out-of-Network)
  • BlueSelect Plus
  • High Performance Network
  • Freedom
  • Freedom Network Select
  • Preferred Care
  • Preferred Care Blue
  • Preferred Health Professionals
• BCBS of Kansas BlueChoice Solutions (formerly BCBS Kansas Solutions)
• Cigna (including Great-West Healthcare)
  • Cigna + Oscar
  • Cigna Plus
  • Cigna SureFit
  • HealthPartners
  • LocalPlus or LocalPlusIN
  • MVP Health Care
  • Network Open Access
  • Open Access Plus
  • PriorityHealth
  • Simple Choice (formerly Cigna Connect)
  • Tufts Health Plan
• CoxHealth Network
  • EPO Exchange (Out-of-Network)
• CoxHealth Plans (utilizing First Health Network)
• First Health Network
• GEHA (utilizing UHC network)
• HealthLink HMO
• HealthLink Open Access
• HealthLink PPO (utilizing Freedom Network)
• Well Care
• Humana
• Medica
  • Balance by Medica (Out-of-Network)
  • Medica Choice National (utilizing the First Health Network)
  • Medica Connect (utilizing ProviDRs Care network)
  • Medica with MU Health Care (referral required)
  • Select by Medica
• Mercy Health Springfield Communities
• MultiPlan (excluding all health and/or cost sharing ministries)
• National Preferred Provider Network
• Orscheln Industries (utilizing HealthSCOPE TPA)
• PHCS (excluding all health and/or cost sharing ministries)
• ProviDRs Care (formerly WPPA)
• QuikTrip
• United Healthcare (UHC)
  • ACA Exchange (Out-of-Network)
  • All Savers
  • Custom Network Plan (Out-of-Network)
  • Deere Premier (Out-of-Network)
  • Surest (limited benefit coverage)
  • UHC Core Essential
  • UHC Choice & Choice Plus
  • UHC Navigate
  • UHC NexusACO
  • UHC Options
  • UHC Select
  • UMR
• USA Managed Care Organization

Federal Plans

• Tricare/Health Net Federal Services 
• • East and West plans 
  • Prime plans require a PCM referral 

State Medicaid Plans

If you have Medicaid coverage and do not live in Kansas or Missouri, please contact your State Medicaid Agency or Health Plan to verify that Children’s Mercy Kansas City is authorized to provide care to your child prior to seeking services. Many States have special requirements that need to be followed before seeking services from an out of State provider and if these are not followed you may not have coverage and be financially responsible for the care you receive at Children’s Mercy Kansas City. The phone number to call for this information should be located on your benefit card that is provided by your State Medicaid Agency or Health Plan when you become eligible for Medicaid coverage.

• Arkansas Medicaid/ARKids First (referral required) 
  • Arkansas Medicaid - Arkansas Total Care (Centene)
  • Arkansas Medicaid - Empower Healthcare Solutions
  • Arkansas Medicaid - Summit Community Care (Out-of-Network)
  • Arkansas Medicaid PASSE (Out-of-Network)
• Kansas Medicaid (see list of managed Medicaid plans below) 
• Missouri Medicaid (see list of managed Medicaid plans below) 
• Oklahoma Medicaid/SoonerCare (referral required)
  
  

State Medicaid Managed Care Plans Medicaid Plans

• Kansas
  • Aetna Better Health 
    • SkyGen USA Dental
    • SkyGen USA Vision
  • Sunflower Health Plan
    • Envolve Dental (Out-of-Network)
    • Envolve Vision
  • United Healthcare Community Plan
    • SkyGen USA Dental
    • MARCH Vision Care (Out-of-Network)
      
      
• Missouri
  • Healthy Blue
    • DentaQuest
    • MARCH Vision Care (Out-of-Network)
  • Home State Health/ Show Me Healthy Kids
    • Envolve Dental
    • Envolve Vision
  • United Healthcare Community Plan
    • United Healthcare Dental
    • MARCH Vision Care (Out-of-Network)
      
      

Specialty Networks

Behavioral Health (Outpatient)

• Cenpatico
• Evernorth Behavioral Health (formerly Cigna Behavioral Health)
• Lucet Behavioral Health (formerly New Directions)
• Optum / United Behavioral Health

Centers of Excellence - Transplant Networks

• Aetna Institutes of Excellence (IOE)
  • BMT, Heart, Kidney, liver
• Blue Distinction Centers for Transplant (BDCT)
  • BMT, Heart, liver
• Cigna LifeSOURCE Transplant Network Designated Programs
  • BMT, Kidney 
• Humana National Transplant Network  
  • BMT, Kidney 
• LifeTrac/Emerging Therapy Solutions (ETS) Programs of Excellence
  • BMT, Heart, Kidney, Liver 
• Optum Pediatric Transplant Centers of Excellence Network
  • BMT, Heart, Kidney 
• Optum Pediatric Transplant Access Program (TAP) 
• • Kindey 

Dental

• Delta Dental
• DentaQuest 
• Envolve Dental (Home State Health & Show Me Healthy Kids)
• MetLife
• SkyGen USA (formerly Scion Dental)

Vision

• Envolve Vision/Opticare
• SkyGen USA (formerly Ocular Benefits)
• Vision Service Plan (VSP)

A narrow network is a type of health plan that requires members to receive care in their preferred, narrow network of a select group of doctors, hospitals, outpatient facilities, laboratories, etc.

• Aetna KC Care Network Plus (formerly I-35 Preferred)
  • Adult Health System Network: AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, KU Medical Center, Liberty Hospital, HCA MidWest Health, North Kansas City Hospital, Olathe Health, University Health
• Aetna Connected
  • Adult Health System Network: AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, KU Medical Center, Liberty Hospital, HCA MidWest Health, North Kansas City Hospital, Olathe Health, University Health
• BlueKC High Performance Network
  • Adult Health System Network: Saint Luke’s Health System
• Cigna Sure Fit
  • Adult Health System Network: HCA MidWest Health, North Kansas City Hospital
•  Cigna Local Plus
  • Adult Health System Network: HCA MidWest Health, North Kansas City Hospital
• UHC Core Essential
• • Adult Health System Network: Saint Luke’s Health System
    
    

Medical

• Ambetter from HomeState Health Plan (MO)
• Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan (KS)
• Anthem Pathway/Pathway X (KS locations only)
• Arkansas Medicaid Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) 
  • Arkansas Total Care
  • CareSource
  • Empower Healthcare Solutions
  • Summit Community Care
• Ascension Personalized Care EPO
• Aspen STM (All Hospital/Facility Services)
• Balance by Medica
• BlueKC Blue Access 
• BlueKC Blue Select
• Cox Health EPO
• Custom Network Plans (Administered by United Healthcare)
  • Custom Network Plan
  • Deere Premier
• HealthChoice of Oklahoma 
• Kaiser Permanente
• LifeShield STM (All Hospital/Facility Services)
• Mercy Anthem Alliance EPO (Anthem BCBS) 
• Oscar Health
• PHCS Practitioners Only (All Hospital/Facility Services)
• Preferred CommunityChoice
• Prime Health Services (PHS)
• Walmart / Mercy: Arkansas Local Plan & Southwest Missouri Local Plan
• All Medicaid and Managed Medicaid plans outside of the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, as well as the Arkansas Medicaid PASSE insurance plans listed above.  

Behavioral Health

• Beacon Health Options (formerly Value Options)
• Magellan Healthcare
• Mercy Managed Behavioral Health

Dental

• Envolve Dental (Sunflower Health Plan)

Home Care

• Humana

Therapy

• TheraMatrix (BCBS of Michigan)

Vision

• EyeMed
• March Vision Care

Q: What are the options for purchasing health insurance for my child?

Options include:

• Get it through your employer.
• Buy it on the Health Insurance Exchange at www.healthcare.gov.
• Buy it from an insurance company, agent or broker.
• Apply for Medicaid
• •  Missouri Medicaid
  •  Kansas Medicaid

Q: What is a Health Insurance Exchange?

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.

Q: When can I enroll/when is open enrollment for insurance coverage on the Health Insurance Exchange (www.healthcare.gov)? Can I enroll outside open enrollment time period?

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.

Q: My child is a patient at Children's Mercy, or I want my child to be seen at Children's Mercy in the future. What do I need to know about my health insurance coverage?

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.

Q: What should I consider when comparing health insurance?

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?

Q: How do I know or how do I make sure Children's Mercy is included in my plan?

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

Q: What can I do if my insurance plan doesn't cover Children's Mercy, I was denied coverage or I am unhappy with my insurance?

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.

• Kansas Department of Insurance-(800) 432-2484
• Missouri Department of Insurance-(800) 726-7390

Q: Why is Children's Mercy not a provider on all plans?

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.

Q: Is there anything I can do to help ensure Children's Mercy is included in insurance plans?

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

Q: I'm an adult patient at Children's Mercy. How do I get coverage?

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

Q: What if my child is seen at Children's Mercy and does not have insurance?

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

• Aetna Coordination of Benefits Form
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Coordination of Benefits Questionnaire
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Duplicate Coverage Form
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Duplicate Coverage Form
• Cerner Coordination of Benefits Questionnaire
• Cigna Coverage Update Form
• Kansas Medicaid Third Party Liability Form
• Missouri HealthNet Accident Report
• Missouri HealthNet Insurance Resource Report
• Tricare Third Party Liability Form
• United HealthCare Coordination of Benefits Form

The No Surprises Act defines an uninsured individual as:

• A patient who has no insurance and is self-pay.
• A patient who has a short-term medical plan.
• A patient who has a cost share or ministries sharing group coverage.
• A patient who has a limited benefits plan.

What is a cost or health care sharing plan?
A cost share or health care sharing plan is provided by organizations whose members “share” medical costs. As part of a health care sharing plan, you are responsible for paying certain share amount each month (like a premium) as well as an “annual unshared amount” for your own expenses (like a deductible) that your medical expenses must exceed before the plan shares your expenses. 

Does Children’s Mercy accept cost sharing plans?
Per the No Surprises Act, individuals with a cost share or health care share plan are uninsured. Therefore, any patient who is enrolled in a sharing plan will be identified as self-pay, or uninsured, when seeking care at Children’s Mercy. Within three days of your appointment being scheduled, a member of Children’s Mercy’s Financial Clearance team will call you to provide a good faith estimate for services the child may receive as part of the scheduled appointment.  

How does billing work if I have a cost share plan?
You will receive a statement for services received with the appropriate self-pay discount already applied. You may forward your statement to your cost share group for review and reimbursement, but you are ultimately responsible for payment regardless of whether your cost share group reimburses you or not. Please note, Children’s Mercy will not send a claim or statement to the cost share group directly; it is your responsibility to submit to your cost share group.

The No Surprises Act defines an uninsured individual as:

• A patient who has no insurance and is self-pay
• A patient who has a short-term medical plan
• A patient who has a cost share or ministries sharing group coverage
• A patient who has a limited benefits plan

Can my child be scheduled for an appointment if they do not have insurance?

Yes! Within three days of your appointment being scheduled, a member of the Children’s Mercy’s Financial Clearance team will call you with a good faith estimate for the services the child may receive as part of the scheduled appointment.

If my child does not have insurance, how can they get coverage?

• You can enroll in the health care exchange during the open enrollment period, or if you meet the definition of a life event at healthcare.gov.  
• Review the information on this page to confirm what exchange plans are in-network with Children’s Mercy
• You can contact a Children’s Mercy Financial Counselor for help enrolling/applying for insurance. A counselor can also screen you for one of Children’s Mercy’s financial aid programs.

How much will I owe if my child does not have insurance?

Families who are defined as uninsured will be eligible for the self-pay discounted rate. You can run a patient estimate for services that your child may receive.

If your insurance card references any of the terms listed below, you likely have limited coverage at Children’s Mercy for the services your child may need

• Practitioner Only
• Ancillary Services
• Hospital/Facility Based Charges
• Referenced Based Pricing or Accepting Medicare Rates

Typically, these plans will only cover the office visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner, but no additional services outside of meeting with the provider.  Children’s Mercy bills as an outpatient hospital, which means that services are most likely not covered at all, or have very limited coverage. To avoid paying higher out-of-pocket costs, contact your health plan to ask where you child can receive care that will be covered by your insurance plan. If there is not another provider that your plan will cover, ask your plan how you can seek approval to have these services at Children’s Mercy.

To ensure your child’s services will be covered by your insurance plan, follow the OON Appointment Request process.

Examples of Hospital Based Charges that will most likely not covered by a Practitioner Only plan:

Diagnostic testing: Any lab, radiology, blood/urine/saliva lab, genetic testing, X-rays, ultrasounds, CT/MRI’s, IVR’s PET scans, nuclear medicine studies, echocardiograms, sleep studies, EEG’s, allergy testing, and/or development, behavioral, or psychology testing

Therapy services: New/established patient evaluations or therapy/services with a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, audiologist, or development/behavioral or psychological services

Medications: Including but not limited to oral, injected, infused medications or implants

In-office or surgical procedures: Circumcisions, bone/fracture care, laser procedures, colonoscopies, or any services in an operating room, procedure room, or in a clinic

Facility charges: including Inpatient or Observation stay, and ground/air ambulance

*This list is not an all-inclusive list. Please email  NarrowNetwork@cmh.edu for questions related to specific services.