“Will my doctor still take my plan?” is the question we hear most. In 2026, a lot of Kansas City people asked it about NKC Health. NKC Health is the system that runs North Kansas City Hospital and the Meritas Health clinics across the Northland and the wider metro. It ended two Medicare Advantage contracts this year. Here is what changed, in plain words, and what to do about it.
What NKC Health changed in 2026
NKC Health posts its Medicare Advantage status on its own website. As of October 2026, it says:
| Plan | Status with NKC Health | Effective |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna Medicare Advantage | No longer accepted | January 1, 2026 |
| UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage (including AARP and Optum branded plans) | Out of network | October 1, 2026 |
| Humana Medicare Advantage | Accepted in 2026 and 2027 | Ongoing |
| Original Medicare | Accepted | Ongoing |
| Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans | Accepted | Ongoing |
A note on the UnitedHealthcare date. Earlier in 2026, NKC Health’s materials pointed to April 1, 2026. Its coverage update page, last updated August 2026, now gives October 1, 2026 as the date hospital and clinic care went out of network. If your card says Optum, NKC Health says changes to your medical group benefits may have started as early as January 1, 2026. We cite NKC Health’s own pages because they are the source of record. Networks change, so check the current page or call us before you rely on any date.
What “out of network” means for you
A Medicare Advantage plan has a list of doctors and hospitals it has contracts with. That list is the network. When a hospital leaves the network:
- HMO and HMO-POS plans usually pay nothing for routine care outside the network. You would need to switch doctors or switch plans.
- PPO plans may still pay something out of network, but your share of the bill is higher.
- Group plans through a former employer sometimes keep working. NKC Health says some group Medicare Advantage plans may continue. Check your plan letter.
- Emergency care is covered at any hospital, in or out of network. That does not change.
NKC Health also says UnitedHealthcare members can ask the plan for “continuity of care.” That can allow about 90 days of in-network treatment for an ongoing condition. It is not automatic. You have to ask the plan.
Why this is not just an NKC Health story
Hospital and insurer contracts are renegotiated every year, all over the country. Kansas City has seen several in a row. The lesson is not “avoid this plan” or “avoid this hospital.” The lesson is that a network you checked two years ago is not a network you have checked.
That is why we tell people to check three things every fall, even when nothing seems wrong: your doctors, your hospital and your medicines.
When you can change plans
If your plan dropped a hospital you use, Medicare gives you set times to act.
- Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. Anyone with Medicare can switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. The new plan starts January 1, 2027.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, January 1 to March 31, 2027. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to another one or return to Original Medicare one time.
- Special Enrollment Periods. Some network changes trigger a special window. These are decided case by case, so ask before you count on one.
If you return to Original Medicare and want a Medicare Supplement plan, health questions may apply unless you have a guaranteed issue right. Missouri also has a yearly anniversary rule for people who already have a supplement. We explain both on Missouri vs Kansas.
How to check your own plan
- Find your plan’s exact name on your card. “UnitedHealthcare” alone is not enough. The plan type (HMO, PPO, group) matters.
- Look at NKC Health’s Medicare Advantage page, linked below, or call NKC Health’s insurance line.
- Check your plan’s 2027 provider directory, not the 2026 one.
- Call us first before you switch. We will confirm the network with the plan and with the hospital.
What to do next
If you use North Kansas City Hospital or a Meritas Health doctor, do not wait for a bill to find out where you stand. Call us first. We are a local, independent agency, and we check hospital networks for Kansas City people all year. There is no fee to work with us, and we never pressure anyone to change. Start with our page on your doctors and hospitals, or book a free network check.