Can You Get Help Paying for Health Insurance in Kentucky?

Health insurance costs are a real concern for many Kentucky families. The good news is that multiple programs exist to help reduce those costs — depending on your income, age, and coverage situation.

Here is an overview of the main types of financial assistance available in Kentucky.

Medicaid

If your household income is at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may qualify for Kentucky Medicaid through Kynect. Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage with little to no premiums and minimal cost-sharing.

For details on eligibility, see our guide on who qualifies for Medicaid in Kentucky.

ACA Marketplace Subsidies

If your income is above the Medicaid threshold but you do not have affordable employer coverage, you may qualify for two types of financial help when purchasing a marketplace plan through Kynect:

• Premium Tax Credits — reduce your monthly premium
• Cost-Sharing Reductions — lower deductibles and copays (Silver plans only)

These subsidies can make marketplace coverage significantly more affordable. Many Kentucky families pay less than $100/month for coverage after subsidies.

For a deeper explanation, see our article on how subsidies work on Kynect.

KCHIP (Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program)

Families with children may qualify for KCHIP, which provides health coverage for children in households that earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. KCHIP covers medical, dental, and vision care for children under 19.

Medicare Savings Programs

For Medicare beneficiaries with limited income, Kentucky offers Medicare Savings Programs that can help pay:

• Part B premiums
• Part A premiums (if applicable)
• Deductibles and coinsurance

These programs include the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB), Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB), and Qualifying Individual (QI) programs.

Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy) for Part D

Medicare beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for Extra Help, which reduces Part D prescription drug costs — including premiums, deductibles, and copays.

• Multiple programs exist to help Kentucky residents afford health coverage at every age and income level.
• Medicaid and marketplace subsidies cover the largest populations.
• Medicare-specific programs provide additional help for seniors with limited income.

How to Find Out What You Qualify For

The best way to determine your eligibility is to:

1. Apply through Kynect (for Medicaid and marketplace coverage)
2. Contact Social Security (for Medicare Extra Help)
3. Talk with Summit Benefits Group (we can help assess your options across all programs)

We help Kentucky residents every day understand which programs they qualify for and how to access them.

Related Reading

Our Kynect overview and Medicaid help page cover the two main routes to assistance in Kentucky. Locally, Summit Benefits Group works with families statewide from our Somerset, Kentucky headquarters.

Navigating financial assistance programs can be confusing. Summit Benefits Group helps Kentucky residents identify every program they may qualify for and walks them through the application process.