Ranked 9 of 15 states · median $765/mo · CMS PY2026
Licensed Independent Agent · NPN #22052447 · 21 States
A 40-year-old musician in Kansas pays a median $765/month for a Silver plan before subsidies — 9th of 15 on cost. The cheapest plan in the state is $565 from Oscar in Anderson. On median Silver premium, Kansas ranks 9 of 15 for this occupation.
Patient-facing and standing work means steady, predictable utilization — regular visits, prescriptions, physical therapy. Copay structure and network breadth drive real annual cost more than the headline premium, so these pages rank states on median premium and carrier count together.
Occupational context: Noise-induced hearing loss; repetitive strain; travel fatigue.
Two things get confused here constantly. Risk exposure decides what coverage you should buy. It does not decide what you are charged — Kansas carriers rate on age, ZIP, tobacco and family size, full stop. A musician with a bad back and a healthy 40-year-old office worker in the same county see the same number.
Premium is set by rating area, so a musician in one Kansas county can pay materially more than one an hour away. Six counties from across the state, cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old:
| County | Cheapest Silver @40 | Issuer | Deductible | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace | $942 | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas | $3,400 | 1 |
| Linn | $565 | Oscar | $6,000 | 4 |
| Leavenworth | $579 | Ambetter from Sunflower | $6,000 | 4 |
| Ellsworth | $689 | Ambetter from Sunflower | $6,000 | 3 |
| Riley | $689 | Ambetter from Sunflower | $6,000 | 3 |
| Elk | $696 | Ambetter from Sunflower | $6,000 | 2 |
The spread across just these six is $377/month — $4,529 a year for the same metal tier. Statewide the range runs $565 to $979. Coverage by County publishes all 105 Kansas counties individually.
| Kansas — network and cost | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Median Silver premium @40 | $765 |
| Cheapest Silver @40 | $565 — Oscar (Anderson) |
| Most expensive Silver @40 | $979 |
| Carriers filing in the state | 6 — Ambetter from Sunflower, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Medica |
| Plan types available | EPO |
| Counties with only one carrier | 14 of 105 |
Kansas has 6 carriers filing and 14 of 105 counties served by a single issuer. For a musician with an established provider relationship, that carrier count is the number that decides whether you keep your doctor.
Source: CMS Plan Year 2026 Qualified Health Plan Landscape file. 3,058 plan records across 105 Kansas counties. Full-price filed rates before premium tax credits — verify at enrollment.
Cheaper for the same coverage: Michigan ($708), South Dakota ($725), Oklahoma ($731). More expensive: Florida ($789), Utah ($805), Texas ($807).
Side-by-side: Kansas vs South Dakota · Kansas vs Oklahoma · Kansas vs Florida · Kansas vs Utah
Cross-state numbers are useful for understanding whether Kansas is treating you well, not for arbitrage. You cannot buy an out-of-state exchange plan. If you are a musician weighing a relocation for other reasons, the premium difference is a real line item worth putting in the decision.
Self-employed Musicians in Kansas typically deduct: Instruments, gear, studio time, touring travel. Health premiums sit separately, above the line under IRC §162(l), and only when neither you nor a spouse could have joined an employer plan — eligibility disqualifies you even if you declined the coverage.
If your household income is above the subsidy range, ACA is not automatically the answer. There are other categories of coverage that may fit, and they work very differently. That is a conversation, not a web page.
The cheapest Silver plan for a 40-year-old in Kansas is $565 per month from Oscar, with a state median of $765. Both figures are full price before premium tax credits; most buyers pay less after subsidies.
No. Under the ACA, carriers cannot rate, decline, or exclude based on occupation or health history. Rates vary only by age, ZIP code, tobacco use and household size.
No. Only EPO plans were filed for 2026.
Kansas ranks 9 of 15 states covered here, at a median $765 per month. Indiana is cheapest at $558 and Nebraska is most expensive at $875.
This page compares states. For Kansas specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — I publish that on Coverage by County, including a page written for Musicians in Kansas and a blog covering deductibles, subsidies and special enrollment.