Liberty and the towns around it
Liberty is the county seat of Clay County, north of the Missouri River (Wikipedia). People here also use Kearney, Excelsior Springs, Smithville, Pleasant Valley, Claycomo and Gladstone for doctors, pharmacies and family. Many drive down I-35 into North Kansas City or across the river for a specialist.
Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans are sold by county. Liberty, Kearney, Excelsior Springs and Smithville are all in Clay County, so the plan list is usually the same across the north side. If you live in the part of Kansas City that spills into Clay County, you are on the same list too.
What changed at Liberty Hospital
For decades, Liberty Hospital at 2525 Glenn Hendren Dr was an independent, locally run hospital. On July 1, 2024, it officially joined The University of Kansas Health System, becoming that system's first hospital in Missouri. The hospital's own site now lists it as part of The University of Kansas Health System.
Here is what that does and does not mean for Medicare:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I follow Kansas Medicare rules now? | No. Rules follow where you live. Liberty is in Missouri, so Missouri rules apply to you. |
| Does a Medicare Supplement still work there? | Yes. Supplements work with any provider who takes Medicare, in any state. |
| Does my Medicare Advantage network change? | It might. When a hospital changes owners, its contracts with plans can change too. Check each year. |
| Can I be sent to Kansas City, Kansas for care? | Possibly, for specialty care within the same system. Whether your plan covers that visit depends on the plan. |
We do not state here which plans include Liberty Hospital, because networks change every year and we would rather check your plan than guess. See how we check.
Other hospitals people in Liberty use
- North Kansas City Hospital (NKC Health), 2800 Clay Edwards Dr, North Kansas City, about 10 minutes down I-35.
- Saint Luke's North Hospital, Barry Road, 5830 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, in the western Northland.
- Centerpoint Medical Center (HCA Midwest Health), Independence, for people who cross the river on Highway 291.
That is four hospitals and four different owners within a short drive of Liberty. Each owner signs its own contracts with Medicare Advantage plans. One dated example on the north side: NKC Health says it went out of network with UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans on October 1, 2026, and that it expects to take Humana Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements and Original Medicare in 2027 (NKC Health, as of August 2026). Things like this can change again, so we check every fall.
A hospital's owner changed. Your plan might not have. If you are not sure whether Liberty Hospital and your doctors still fit your plan, send us their names. We check them against the plans we offer. Call (816) 307-6165 or book a free review.
Supplement or Advantage, in plain words
With so much change on the north side, many people in Liberty ask us which type of plan handles it better. A Medicare Supplement has no network, so a hospital changing hands does not affect where you can go. It costs more each month and does not include drug coverage, so you add a Part D plan. A Medicare Advantage plan usually costs less each month and often includes drug coverage and extras, but it has a network and may require approval before certain care. Neither is right for everyone. We walk through both using your own doctors and health history, and this year's figures 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. Most people do it online at ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Liberty does not have its own Social Security office.
The closest Social Security office for most Northland residents is the Kansas City North office. Confirm the address and hours with the ssa.gov office locator before you go.
Social Security moves offices from time to time, so the locator is the safest place to check.
Veterans in Liberty
If you served, the closest VA primary care is the Excelsior Springs VA Clinic at 2366 Vintage Dr in Excelsior Springs, a short drive east. For hospital care, veterans in Liberty use the Kansas City VA Medical Center at 4801 Linwood Blvd in Kansas City, Missouri, or the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center at 4101 4th Street Trafficway in Leavenworth, Kansas. VA care and Medicare work side by side. VA covers you inside VA facilities. Medicare can cover you at Liberty Hospital or a local urgent care, where VA alone usually does not, and it can help a spouse, which VA care cannot. We explain the pieces, including TRICARE For Life and CHAMPVA, on our veterans page.
Missouri rules and free help
Missouri has an anniversary rule for Medicare Supplement plans. Each year, within 30 days before or after your policy anniversary, you may switch to the same plan letter with another company without health questions (Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance). Kansas does not have this rule, and your hospital's new owner does not change that for you. 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 Liberty
Cole Insure is a Kansas City agency, independent and not owned by any insurance company. There is no Cole Insure office in Liberty. Right now we serve Liberty and Clay County by phone and video, and when our office reopens in January 2027 you will also be able to see us in person by appointment. We compare plans from many insurance companies. Our help is free, and you pay the same price as going direct. We work all year, not just in the fall, so call us first when 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 Liberty?
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 for most Northland residents is the Kansas City North office. Confirm the address and hours with the ssa.gov office locator before you go. You can also apply online at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. For help choosing a plan, call us or Missouri SHIP.
Liberty Hospital joined a Kansas health system. Do I follow Kansas rules now?
No. Your Medicare rules follow where you live, not who owns your hospital. If you live in Liberty, you are under Missouri rules, including the anniversary rule for Medicare Supplements. The hospital is still in Missouri and still takes Medicare.
Does my plan still include Liberty Hospital after the change?
A Medicare Supplement does, because it works with any provider who takes Medicare. For a Medicare Advantage plan, it depends on the network, which can change each year, especially after a hospital changes owners. Give us your doctors' names and we will check the plans we offer.
Do you have an office in Liberty?
There is no Liberty office. We help people in Liberty over the phone and on video calls today. Starting in January 2027, when our Kansas City office reopens, you can schedule a visit in person.
I live in Kearney. Are my choices the same as Liberty?
Kearney, Liberty, Excelsior Springs and Smithville are all in Clay County, so the Medicare Advantage and drug plan list is usually the same. Networks can still differ by plan, so we check your doctors either way.
Does it cost anything to work with you?
No fee at all. The insurance companies pay us, and your premium does not change because an agent helped you. You pay what you would pay going direct.