CareArc is alerting patients and community members about upcoming changes to Medicaid eligibility that will affect some immigrants beginning October 1, 2026.
Under a new federal law known as H.R. 1, the rules determining who qualifies for Medicaid — known in Kansas as KanCare — are changing. Some immigrants, including but not limited to refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, and survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking, will no longer qualify for full KanCare coverage. Individuals in this group may still qualify for Emergency Medical Care for Non-Citizens, formerly known as SOBRA.
Coverage will remain in place for individuals who are:
- U.S. citizens
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Migrants and citizens of the Freely Associated States (COFA migrants)
- Cuban or Haitian migrants
What Should Patients Do Now
KanCare will mail a personalized notice to anyone whose coverage is affected, but CareArc encourages patients to take a few steps now rather than wait:
- Update contact information with KanCare so the state can reach you with any notice about your coverage. This can be done at KanCare.ks.gov by clicking the red chat bubble.
- Watch the mail for a personalized notice from KanCare.
- Schedule care and fill prescriptions before October 1, 2026, to avoid any gap in coverage.
- Contact the KanCare Clearinghouse at 1-800-792-4884 with questions about eligibility.
- Visit KanCare.ks.gov/ImmigrantEligibility for full details on the policy change.
What This Means at CareArc
Regardless of how these Medicaid changes affect an individual's coverage, CareArc wants every patient in our community to know: our doors remain open. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, CareArc does not turn away any patients because of their immigration status or their ability to pay. Healthcare should be convenient and affordable for everyone, without exception — that has been our approach since 1997, and it isn't changing now.
Patients who lose KanCare coverage, or who never had it to begin with, can still access medical, dental, and behavioral health care at CareArc through our Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program, which reduces the cost of care based on household income and family size. We accept Medicaid, Medicare, and most major insurance plans, but insurance has never been a requirement to walk through our doors.
Patients with questions about their coverage or who want to schedule care before October 1 are encouraged to call CareArc at 620-342-4864.
Additional Resources
For patients and families who may need immigration, legal, or additional community support, KanCare has compiled a list of resources, including:
Familial Support and Education
Health and Medical
Workforce Services
A full list is available at KanCare.ks.gov/Resources.
