South Dakota Health Insurance


Family & Individual Health Insurance
Short-term Health Insurance
Group /Small Business
Student Health Insurance
Medicare Supplement
Life Insurance


How healthy is living in South Dakota?

South Dakota is 20th of the 50 U.S. states in this year's ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

  • Prevalence of binge drinking – 37
  • Prevalence of obesity – 35
  • High school graduation – 6
  • Violent crime – 5
  • Occupational fatalities – 33
  • Infectious disease – 7
  • Air pollution – 6
  • Immunization coverage – 9
  • Poor mental health days – 3
  • Poor physical health days – 5

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on South Dakota.


Does South Dakota have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Thumbs up on offering a risk pool.; South Dakota Risk Pool
605-773-3148 (ask for a Risk Pool representative)


IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, South Dakota will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about South Dakota's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.


Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in South Dakota

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.


Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in South Dakota

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for South Dakota.


USNews health insurance rankings for South Dakota

USNews logo US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in South Dakota.


Official State Goverment Sites with South Dakota Health Insurance Information

South Dakota State Seal.;

South Dakota Department of Help -- its mission is to prevent disease and promote health, ensure access to needed, high-quality health care, and to efficiently manage public health resources.

South Dakota Children's Health Insurance Program -- provides health insurance at little or no cost to South Dakota children who meet certain eligibility guidelines.

South Dakota Department of Social Services -- its Division of Economic Assistance is responsible for administering the Medicaid to help low income individuals and families.

South-Dakota Health Insurance News

States Say Overhaul Will Bust Already Strained Medicaid Budget

BusinessWeek – President Barack Obama faces a fight over the health-care overhaul from states that say they’ll sue because the legislation’s expansion of Medicaid imposes a fiscal strain their cash-strapped budgets can’t afford.

Read more South-Dakota health insurance news & opinion

South-Dakota Health Insurance Companies

Health insurance companies in South-Dakota.
Get health plan pricing for these companies.

Avera Health Plans
Celtic Ins. Co.
Golden Rule
Medica

Call Congress: Support Insurance Reform

Contact your federal officials. All Americans need your help to demand that Congress continue to support health care legislation that will make health insurance affordable and accessible to all Americans.
Senator Tim Johnson
PHONE: 202-224-5842 (DC office)
FAX: 202-228-5429 (DC office)
Local offices
Contact by E-mail
Senator John Thune
PHONE: 202-224-2321 (DC office)
FAX: not available (DC office)
Local offices
Contact by E-mail

House Members
(follow link, then look for "Contact")

For state-level reform, contact:

South-Dakota Governor Michael Rounds
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
PHONE: 605-773-3212
Contact by e-mail

Contact your South-Dakota State Senator and State Representative

Read more on Health Care Reform!


Health Insurance 101: learning center

Individual health insurance an overview for those without employer-sponsored plans

Health insurance scams: tips for defending yourself from insurance fraud

Private health insurance: background on the "American way" of paying for health care

Self-employed health insurance: how to get – and keep – your health coverage

Additional health care resources

Find licensed physicians near you. Each state is home to organizations that can help you find and research physicians, offering online information about a physician's license, schooling, practice information and more.

South-Dakota Licensee Search
South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners

Other South-Dakota Public Resources
South Dakota State Medical Association