Missouri's MO HealthNet MLTC waiver and Kansas's KanCare can both help pay for long-term care in the KC metro — but they're separate programs. Here's how KC families apply on each side of the state line.
By Carol Henderson, CSA · May 14, 2026
Because the Kansas City metro spans two states, long-term care Medicaid works differently depending on which side of the line your loved one lives on. On the Missouri side, the program is MO HealthNet, and its long-term care support runs through Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. On the Kansas side, the program is KanCare, Kansas's managed Medicaid system, which delivers long-term services and supports through its managed care organizations.
The distinction is not academic. Residency determines eligibility, application channel, covered services, and which managed care plan you'll work with. A senior in Independence or Lee's Summit applies through Missouri; a senior in Overland Park or Olathe applies through Kansas. Getting this right from the start avoids weeks of lost time during an already stressful period.
MO HealthNet's HCBS waiver, delivered through Missouri's managed long-term care structure, can cover personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, and other supports for seniors who meet a nursing-facility level of care and Missouri's income and asset limits. It generally does not pay room and board in an assisted living setting — seniors typically apply Social Security income toward rent and meals, with the waiver covering personal care and services on top.
MO HealthNet managed care plans in the Kansas City area include Healthy Blue, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Missouri, and Centene/WellCare Missouri. Families can start with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services or contact the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Area Agency on Aging at (816) 474-4240 for a free screening. MARC serves Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, and Ray counties on the Missouri side.
KanCare covers long-term services and supports for eligible Kansas seniors who meet functional and financial criteria, including personal care and home- and community-based services that can be used in an assisted living setting. Like Missouri's program, KanCare generally does not cover room and board — it covers care and services. Kansas costs trend slightly lower than comparable Missouri metros, which can stretch a fixed income further.
KanCare is delivered through three managed care organizations: Amerigroup, Sunflower Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Kansas. Johnson County families can reach the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging at (913) 715-8861 for free help screening for eligibility and navigating the application. A common, avoidable mistake is applying only after a crisis; starting early — before a hospital discharge deadline hits — gives families time to complete the functional assessment and choose a plan without pressure.
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