South Dakota Health 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?

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.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in South Dakota and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in South Dakota.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

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

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 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.