Kansas Stories: Sue

June 2026

Sue is one of thousands of Kansans who rely on both Medicare and KanCare, the state’s Medicaid program, to survive.

After multiple careers, Sue went back to school at age 51 at Friends University for her master’s degree, and later became a Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist. Sue now spends her retirement doing different things: keeping in touch with lifelong friends all over the country and in Canada; helping people sign up for library cards; encouraging people to vote; and assisting a friend running for office. Sue does all that a more while living in her peaceful, nonprofit long-term care facility.

When Sue became eligible for Medicare and selected a Medicare supplement, she chose a plan that was less expensive, which led to higher-than-expected costs when she needed a minor, outpatient procedure. Luckily her providers were able to write off most of her care. Sue was then able to upgrade to a more comprehensive — but also more expensive — Medicare supplement plan.

The costlier plan is a “lifesaver” as doctors diagnosed Sue with ovarian cancer shortly after she upgraded her supplement plan. Sue is grateful she never had to pay for any of her cancer treatments, whether chemotherapy or surgery. Thankfully Sue’s ovarian cancer has been in remission for fifteen years.

Every month, Sue pays $450 from her Social Security payment for her supplement plan. She keeps $62 for her personal needs, and the rest of her monthly Social Security check goes to her long-term care facility. Medicaid pays for the rest of her long-term care facility.

“[Without Medicaid, I] would not be able to live in this very beautiful community,” she said.

Sue knows Medicaid is critical for her health care and fears cuts to Medicaid would stop her from residing in her long-term care facility. If it were not for Medicaid, Sue says she “would not be able to live.” Sue also worries that, even if Medicaid cuts do not impact her personally, they would impact other Kansans.

“If you’re a person who doesn’t have much Social Security — and there are people who are like that, who didn’t have much of a work life — then I don’t know what’s going to happen [to them],” she said.

Sue said her friends worry about what Medicaid cuts would mean for them. One predicted that she would be homeless without Medicaid.

Sue also worries that stricter Medicaid eligibility requirements, as well as more paperwork to meeting those requirements, will hurt everyone enrolled in Medicaid, but especially older Kansans.

She must now certify her income every six months — something she has never had to do before — by calling her credit union and requesting someone send her statements. She said she was lucky that someone at her credit union was kind enough and able to assist her, but worries that others might not be so lucky, or that they might not even be able to contact their financial institution in the first place.

Social Security recipients typically receive cost-of-living increases every year. In 2026, Sue received a $35 cost of living increase. But because KanCare requires her to pay all of her income (minus her $62 personal needs allowance) to her long-term care facility, Sue did not receive any increase. Unless the personal needs allowance increases, Sue is effectively “stuck” at $62 a month, regardless of any Social Security increases she receives.

Thankfully Sue has been able to navigate changes to both Medicare and Medicaid and has continued relying on both for her survival. It is crucial that Kansas protect Medicaid for Sue and thousands of other Kansans relying on it.

The difference in Sue’s case between having Medicaid and not having Medicaid is not comfort or convenience. It’s the ability to receive necessary health care and live.