Lee's Summit and the towns around it
Lee's Summit sits mostly in Jackson County, with a southern slice in Cass County (Wikipedia). People here also use Blue Springs, Independence, Raytown, Greenwood, Lake Winnebago, Raymore and Grandview for shopping, doctors and family. Many drive into Kansas City for a specialist or a hospital stay.
That county line is more than trivia. Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans are sold by county. Two neighbors in Lee's Summit, one with a Jackson County address and one with a Cass County address, may not see the same list of plans. So your ZIP code and street are among the first things we ask.
Two hospitals, two health systems
Lee's Summit has two hospitals, and they belong to different systems:
| Hospital | Health system | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Luke's East Hospital | Saint Luke's Health System | 100 NE Saint Luke's Blvd, Lee's Summit |
| Lee's Summit Medical Center | HCA Midwest Health | 2100 SE Blue Pkwy, Lee's Summit |
| University Health Lakewood Medical Center | University Health | 7900 Lee's Summit Rd, Kansas City (near the Lee's Summit border) |
Why this matters: each health system signs its own contracts with Medicare Advantage plans. A plan can include one Lee's Summit hospital and not the other. Your family doctor, your heart doctor and your hospital may each belong to a different system. A Medicare Supplement avoids this problem, because it works with any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare. A Medicare Advantage plan has a network, and we have to check it hospital by hospital.
One dated example: Saint Luke's says it will stop taking Aetna Medicare Advantage plans on January 1, 2027, while it lists Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Devoted Health plans, among others, as still in network for 2027 (Saint Luke's, as of October 2026). Networks change every year, so we check again every fall. See how we check.
Call us first so we can check both hospitals. Give us your doctors' names and the hospital you would want in an emergency. We check them against the plans we offer before you pick or switch anything. Call (816) 307-6165 or book a free review.
The fear behind the question
When people in Lee's Summit call us, the real worry is usually not the hospital's name. It is this: "If I get sick, will my plan tell me no?" Many Medicare Advantage plans use prior authorization. That means the plan must approve certain care, like a scan, a surgery or a rehab stay, before it pays. Original Medicare with a Supplement rarely works that way. Advantage plans often cost less each month and add extras like dental or a gym benefit. Supplements cost more each month but have fewer rules and no network. Neither is right for everyone. We walk through the trade-off using your doctors and your health, not a sales script. This year's premiums and deductibles are on our Medicare costs page.
Signing up for Parts A and B
Social Security, not Medicare and not us, handles signing up for Parts A and B. Your first window lasts seven months, starting three months before the month you turn 65 (medicare.gov). Most people sign up online at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Lee's Summit does not have its own Social Security office. The closest one is in Independence, about a 15-minute drive up Highway 291:
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 Lee's Summit
If you served, the nearest VA hospital is the Kansas City VA Medical Center at 4801 Linwood Blvd in Kansas City, Missouri. The Belton VA Clinic at 1900 E 173rd St in Belton is a shorter drive for many people on the south side of Lee's Summit. Veterans often ask us how VA care and Medicare fit together. In short, VA care covers you inside VA facilities. Medicare can cover you at Saint Luke's East or Lee's Summit Medical Center, where VA care alone usually does not. VA also does not provide routine dental care to most veterans (va.gov), and it does not cover a spouse. We explain all of this, including TRICARE For Life and CHAMPVA, on our veterans page.
A Missouri rule worth knowing
Missouri has an anniversary rule for Medicare Supplement plans. Each year, within 30 days before or after your policy anniversary, you can switch to the same plan letter with another company, and the new company cannot turn you down for health reasons (Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance). Kansas does not have this rule, which matters if you ever move across the state line. See how the two states compare.
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.
How we work with people in Lee's Summit
Our agency is local to Kansas City and independent of any one insurance company. We do not have an office in Lee's Summit at this time, so we meet with Lee's Summit residents over the phone or by video. In January 2027, when our office reopens, in-person appointments return. We compare plans from many companies. Our help is free, the price is the same as going direct, and there is no pressure. We are here all year, so call us first if a plan letter arrives or a doctor leaves a network.
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 Lee's Summit?
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.
Can one plan include both Saint Luke's East and Lee's Summit Medical Center?
Sometimes, but not always. The two hospitals belong to different health systems, and each system signs its own contracts with Medicare Advantage plans. A Medicare Supplement works at both, because it goes with any provider who takes Medicare. Tell us which hospital you prefer and we will check the plans we offer.
I live in the Cass County part of Lee's Summit. Does that change my choices?
It can. Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans are offered by county, so a Cass County address may see a slightly different plan list than a Jackson County address. Your ZIP code and street tell us which list applies to you.
Do you have an office in Lee's Summit?
Not yet. Lee's Summit residents work with us by phone and video for now. Our office in Kansas City reopens in January 2027, and we will take in-person appointments again at that point.
What is the Missouri anniversary rule?
Each year, within 30 days before or after your Medicare Supplement policy anniversary, Missouri lets you move to the same plan letter with another company without health questions. It only applies to Supplements, not Medicare Advantage. Our Missouri vs Kansas page explains it.
Does it cost anything to work with you?
It does not. Our help is free to you. The premium for any plan we offer is the same price you would see if you went straight to the insurance company.