At a glance
What Kansas requires
Kansas permits fixed indemnity as a supplemental, limited-benefit product, but it layers specific requirements on these plans. A hospital confinement indemnity plan must pay at least $50 per day for at least 31 days per confinement (K.A.R. 40-4-28). In addition, a generic limited-policy notice — the exact words "THIS IS A LIMITED POLICY--READ IT CAREFULLY" — must be printed in at least 18-point bold type (K.A.R. 40-4-38), so you're clearly told the policy is limited before you rely on it.
Because fixed indemnity is an excepted benefit, it sits outside ACA rules. (At the federal level, a 2024 fixed-indemnity consumer-notice requirement was vacated by a court in December 2024, so it is not federally required; an earlier 2014 individual-market notice still applies.) No dedicated Kansas bulletin adopted the 2024 federal fixed-indemnity consumer-notice, so Kansas's own limited-policy notice under K.A.R. 40-4-38 is the disclosure that applies here.
The core thing to understand is how it pays: fixed indemnity pays a predetermined cash amount when a covered event happens — no matter what your treatment actually costs. That's very different from major medical, which pays a share of your actual bills.
How fixed indemnity works in Kansas
Fixed indemnity and related excepted benefits come in a few forms (described as coverage types, not specific products):
Each pays a fixed cash benefit you can use toward bills, deductibles, or everyday costs during a covered event. Kansas policies must carry the "THIS IS A LIMITED POLICY--READ IT CAREFULLY" notice in bold, so take that seriously and read the policy closely. These products are designed to supplement real coverage, not replace it. As an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage, we don't push any single insurer — and we'll be clear that fixed indemnity works best alongside a comprehensive plan, not instead of one.
How to get coverage here
Fixed indemnity isn't sold through the health insurance marketplace, and it isn't tied to Open Enrollment — you can generally apply for it year-round, directly from an insurer or through a broker, subject to the product's terms and Kansas's requirements.
For the comprehensive coverage that fixed indemnity is meant to supplement, Kansas uses the federally facilitated marketplace at HealthCare.gov, where ACA plans have an annual Open Enrollment (typically each fall through early winter) and Special Enrollment Periods for qualifying life events like losing job-based coverage, moving, or having a baby. Kansas has not expanded Medicaid, so eligibility there is limited mostly to specific categories.
What it costs
We don't quote premiums here — prices depend on your situation — but the cost of fixed indemnity in Kansas is driven by:
Because fixed indemnity pays fixed amounts rather than a share of your bills, the real question is how much cash it pays for the events you're most concerned about — and remember it's supplemental, so weigh it alongside the cost of the comprehensive coverage it's meant to support.
Fixed indemnity insurance is a supplemental, limited-benefit (excepted-benefit) product. It pays fixed cash amounts for covered events regardless of your actual medical costs, is not major medical coverage, and is not minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act. It does not cover the full range of essential health benefits and is not a substitute for a comprehensive health plan.
GetHealthPlans.com is operated by MTG Insurance Agency, an independent, carrier-neutral brokerage. We do not issue insurance and are not a government agency or the health insurance marketplace. Regulatory details on this page reflect Kansas law and Kansas Department of Insurance guidance as of the last-reviewed date and can change; confirm current terms and the specific product's approved form before you enroll.