What common medical visits cost in Kansas - and how they compare to nearby states

In the patchwork of health care providers in the United States, determining what a medical visit might cost can be confusing at best and life-altering at worst. The vast majority of patients who arrive at the hospital for a service recommended by their doctor do so without knowing the cost of that treatment. The price tag on most medical visits is so high for the uninsured, a full one-third of all money raised on GoFundMe is for health care costs.

A raft of legislation in nearly every state is set on tackling some of these endemic issues, with energy aimed squarely at lowering costs and expanding access. Some of this legislation is grand in scope, notably in states like New York where legislators are looking to put a public option on the table for residents there. Other states are taking a narrower approach, requiring providers to release price lists so patients are aware of what their care will cost.

Stacker analyzed cost data released on June 8, 2021, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, common provider data from Verywell Health, and state zip codes from Simplemaps to find the average out-of-pocket cost for three typical medical visits in each state.

Kansas

- Most common family practice visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $98.47 for established patients ($84.86 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.62 for established patients ($21.21 for new patients)
- Most common internal medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $98.47 for established patients ($127.22 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.62 for established patients ($31.81 for new patients)
- Most common pediatric medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $98.47 for established patients ($84.86 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.62 for established patients ($21.21 for new patients)

Kansas is one of 12 states that have declined to expand Medicaid access. Its current governor has since called upon Congress to create workarounds for states whose conservative legislatures will not green light Medicaid expansion. Such a program would allow eligible residents in non-expansion states to access full Medicaid coverage at no additional cost to the government.

Some trends held steady across most states. For family practice and pediatric visits, new patients often pay less than established patients. For internal medicine visits, new patients frequently pay more than established patients. Both of these trends exist regardless of insurance type.

Transparency is increasingly paramount in American health care. Keep reading for a look at what common medical visits cost in neighboring states and the state-level factors that may influence these costs.

Nebraska

- Most common family practice visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $97.60 for established patients ($83.92 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.40 for established patients ($20.98 for new patients)
- Most common internal medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $97.60 for established patients ($125.79 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.40 for established patients ($31.45 for new patients)
- Most common pediatric medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $97.60 for established patients ($83.92 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.40 for established patients ($20.98 for new patients)

Nebraska passed a bill in 2021 to permanently expand access to telehealth services. Studies have shown that access to telehealth can reduce the cost of providing health care by up to $1,500 per visit.

Oklahoma

- Most common family practice visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $98.46 for established patients ($85.07 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.61 for established patients ($21.27 for new patients)
- Most common internal medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $98.46 for established patients ($127.77 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.61 for established patients ($31.94 for new patients)
- Most common pediatric medicine visit costs
--- Medicare recipients: $98.46 for established patients ($85.07 for new patients)
--- Other insurance holders: $24.61 for established patients ($21.27 for new patients)

Budgeting for health care is set to become less opaque for Oklahomans. In 2021, the state senate passed a measure that would require health care providers to annually publish the costs of their most common medical procedures, helping residents decide which provider to visit and how to budget for their care.