Quick answer
KanCare is Kansas's Medicaid program. It covers nursing home care for seniors who qualify financially and medically. Through the Frail Elderly waiver it also pays for help at home, personal care, adult day care and other community services. It does not pay room and board in assisted living. Call the ADRC at 1-855-200-2372 for a free assessment.
KanCare Medicaid overview
- Medicaid in Kansas
- Called KanCare. It covers nursing home care for people who qualify financially. Through the Frail Elderly (FE) waiver it can also pay for care and support at home, personal care, adult day care, a personal emergency response system, home safety changes and similar services, for Kansans 65 or older who meet a nursing-facility level of need. The FE waiver does not pay the monthly rent in assisted living.
- Who qualifies
- Age 65 or older, a nursing-facility level of need on the state's assessment, and financial eligibility decided by the KanCare Clearinghouse. Spouses who stay at home have protections.
- Where to start
- The statewide Aging and Disability Resource Center line, 1-855-200-2372, or the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging at 913-715-8861 for free options counseling. For planning questions, how the house, savings or a spouse's income interact, talk to a Kansas elder law attorney. We don't give legal or Medicaid-planning advice, and nobody should plan an asset transfer around eligibility on a website's word.
- Veterans
- VA Aid and Attendance pension. For wartime-era veterans and surviving spouses who meet VA's service, need and financial rules, it can add well over a thousand dollars a month, VA lists the maximum at $2,424 a month for a veteran alone and $2,874 with one dependent (rates effective December 1, 2025). We explain what the benefit is; we never file claims or charge for claims help. Free, accredited help filing: the Kansas Office of Veterans Services (kovs.ks.gov) or a veterans service organization.
- Medicare
- Does not pay for assisted living or long-term care. It covers short rehab stays after a qualifying hospital stay and some home health under conditions.
What senior care costs in Kansas
Before you can figure out what might help pay, it helps to know what care costs. These are the 2025 state medians from the CareScout (Genworth) survey:
| Type of care | Typical monthly cost (state median) | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Care at home, 44 hours a week | $6,435 a month | Hours per week; the published hourly median is $34 |
| Assisted living | $5,975 a month | Base rent plus a care level sized to need; bigger apartments cost more |
| Adult day care | $4,333 a month | Days attended per week; Kansas runs high on this nationally |
| Nursing home, semi-private | $8,669 a month | Room type; private rooms cost more |
| Memory care | Quoted separately | Ask each community for the all-in monthly rate, not the starting rate |
Source: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025 (Kansas state medians), survey year 2025. Medians, not quotes, every community prices differently.
Not sure which programs fit?
Call us at (800) 614-8388. We will listen to your situation and walk through the options that might work — Medicaid, VA benefits, Medicare, or a mix. There is no charge, and we never sell or share your information without your permission.