Blue Springs and the towns around it
Blue Springs is in Jackson County, east of Kansas City along I-70 (Wikipedia). People here also use Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Lake Lotawana, Lake Tapawingo, Independence and Lee's Summit for doctors, pharmacies and family. Some drive south to Pleasant Hill or into Kansas City for a specialist.
Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans are sold by county. Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Oak Grove are all in Jackson County, so the plan list is usually the same across the east side. What differs from one person to the next is the network and the pharmacy list. That is where we spend most of our time.
One hospital in town, three more nearby
- St. Mary's Medical Center (Prime Healthcare), 201 NW R.D. Mize Rd, Blue Springs. The only hospital inside the city.
- Centerpoint Medical Center (HCA Midwest Health), 19600 E 39th St S, Independence, just west on I-70.
- Saint Luke's East Hospital (Saint Luke's Health System), Lee's Summit, south on Highway 7 and 50.
- Lee's Summit Medical Center (HCA Midwest Health), Lee's Summit.
Notice that these four hospitals belong to three different owners. Each owner signs its own contracts with Medicare Advantage plans. So a plan that includes Centerpoint does not automatically include St. Mary's, and the other way around. Your primary doctor may send you to one, and an ambulance may take you to another. A Medicare Supplement sidesteps this, because it works with any hospital that takes Medicare. For a Medicare Advantage plan, we check each hospital you might use, not just the closest one. We do not list network details here, because they change every year and we would rather check your plan than guess. See how we check.
Your pharmacy is part of the picture
People ask us about hospitals first, but the surprise bill in Blue Springs is more often at the pharmacy counter. Part D drug plans, and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage, each have their own list of covered medicines and their own preferred pharmacies. The same prescription can cost very different amounts from one plan to the next, and from a preferred pharmacy to a standard one. So when we review your plan, we ask for three things: your medicine names and doses, the pharmacy you like to use, and whether mail order is okay with you. Then we compare the plans we offer on your actual medicines, not an average. Our Part D page explains how these plans work.
Call us first so we can check your doctors and your pharmacy. Before you pick or switch a plan, give us your doctors, your hospital and your medicine list. We check them against the plans we offer. Call (816) 307-6165 or book a free review.
Already have a Supplement? Missouri gives you a yearly chance
If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and the premium has crept up, Missouri gives you something most states do not. Each year, within 30 days before or after your policy anniversary, you can switch to the same plan letter (for example, Plan G to Plan G) with another insurance company, and the new company cannot turn you down or charge more because of your health (Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance, Bulletin 99-03). Your benefits stay the same because the plan letter is the same. Only the company and the premium change.
Two cautions. First, it has to be the same plan letter. Moving from Plan F to Plan G is not covered by this rule. Second, the window is short, so mark your anniversary date. If you are not sure when it is, look at your policy or call us and we will help you find it. Kansas does not have this rule, which is one of the bigger differences between the two sides of the metro. See how Missouri and Kansas compare.
Signing up for Parts A and B
Social Security, not Medicare and not us, handles signing up for Parts A and B. Most people do it online at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Blue Springs does not have its own Social Security office. The closest one is in Independence, a few exits west on I-70:
Social Security Office, Independence
3520 S Noland Rd, Suite C, Independence, MO 64055
Check hours and make an appointment through the ssa.gov office locator.
Address listed by United Way of Greater Kansas City 211. Please confirm with the locator before you go.
Veterans in Blue Springs
If you served, the nearest VA hospital is the Kansas City VA Medical Center at 4801 Linwood Blvd in Kansas City, Missouri, about 20 miles west on I-70. The Honor VA Clinic at 4251 Northern Ave in Kansas City is closer for primary care, mental health care and a pharmacy. Veterans often tell us they were not sure Medicare was worth having on top of VA care. The short answer: VA covers you inside VA facilities, and Medicare covers you at St. Mary's, Centerpoint or a local urgent care, where VA alone usually does not. Medicare also helps a spouse, and VA care does not. We explain the pieces, including TRICARE For Life and CHAMPVA, on our veterans page.
Free help, besides us
For free counseling that does not sell anything, call Missouri SHIP at 800-390-3330 or visit missouriship.org. It used to be called CLAIM. If money is tight, Missouri's Medicare Savings Programs can help some people pay the Part B premium. You apply through the Missouri Department of Social Services. Tell us if you think you might qualify and we will point you to the right place.
How we work with people in Blue Springs
Cole Insure is an independent agency, and Kansas City is home. There is no Cole Insure office in Blue Springs, so for now we work with Blue Springs families over the phone and by video. Once our office reopens in January 2027, you can book an in-person appointment if you prefer to sit across a table. We compare plans from many insurance companies, and our help is free. The price is the same as going direct. We are here all year, so when a plan letter arrives or a pharmacy says your plan changed, call us first.
Call us first
Tell us a little about you and we will call you back during business hours.
Questions people ask us
Is there a Medicare office in Blue Springs?
No. Medicare does not have local offices, and we are not a government office. Social Security handles Part A and B sign-up. The closest Social Security office is in Independence at 3520 S Noland Rd, Suite C. You can also apply online at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. For help choosing a plan, call us or Missouri SHIP.
Does St. Mary's in Blue Springs take my plan?
It depends on the plan. A Medicare Supplement works at St. Mary's and at any hospital that takes Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans have networks, and St. Mary's is owned by a different company than the hospitals in Independence and Lee's Summit, so each one has to be checked on its own. Give us your doctors' names and we will check the plans we offer.
I already have a Medicare Supplement. Can I switch to a lower premium?
In Missouri, possibly yes. Within 30 days before or after your policy anniversary, you can move to the same plan letter with another company without health questions. We can look at what you pay now and what the plans we offer charge, then tell you plainly whether a switch makes sense.
Do you have an office in Blue Springs?
Not in Blue Springs. Right now we work with people here over the phone and by video, and most find that easier than driving. Our Kansas City office reopens in January 2027, and you will be able to book an in-person appointment then.
I live in Grain Valley. Are my choices the same as Blue Springs?
Grain Valley, Blue Springs, Lake Lotawana and Oak Grove are all in Jackson County, so the Medicare Advantage and drug plan list is usually the same. Networks and pharmacy lists can still differ by plan, so we check your doctors and pharmacy either way.
Does it cost anything to work with you?
No. Working with us is free. Plan premiums are set by the insurance company and filed with the state, so you pay the same whether you sign up through us or on your own.