The solution lies in working with the state and Feds to allow for smaller groups to pool and purchase group insurance; as well as encouraging other insurance companies to sell plans in South Dakota. Sanford and Avera seem to be the only readily available policies.
Insofar as small groups or small businesses? South Dakota has a substantial majority of its residents residing in rural areas. Small towns and farmers seem the hardest hit by the provider gap. Focusing on helping these areas garner more access to a wider pool of providers via pooling creates more competition and leads to a better overall marketplace.
Government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are a hand up and should not be treated as a hand out. Further, the hugely onerous administrative burden of applying for them processing claims under these programs means individuals remain at risk of incurring substantial debt before payments are made to providers.
Providers are loathe to accept these programs due to the mystically developed reimbursement rates, often well below
Market demands and woefully behind inflation.
There are better ways already proven to work. If the State wants to be pragmatic in its tax dollar investment then it would pursue options which create long term individual benefit without substantially increasing the tax burden on all South Dakotans. Residents are already getting hammered on property taxes and insidious things like sales taxes on groceries. Stop grinding residents into the ground one penny at a time and look to more pragmatic solutions where residents can choose the solutions that work.
Great comments Jill!
Let’s not punish sick people.
The solution lies in working with the state and Feds to allow for smaller groups to pool and purchase group insurance; as well as encouraging other insurance companies to sell plans in South Dakota. Sanford and Avera seem to be the only readily available policies.
Insofar as small groups or small businesses? South Dakota has a substantial majority of its residents residing in rural areas. Small towns and farmers seem the hardest hit by the provider gap. Focusing on helping these areas garner more access to a wider pool of providers via pooling creates more competition and leads to a better overall marketplace.
Government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare are a hand up and should not be treated as a hand out. Further, the hugely onerous administrative burden of applying for them processing claims under these programs means individuals remain at risk of incurring substantial debt before payments are made to providers.
Providers are loathe to accept these programs due to the mystically developed reimbursement rates, often well below
Market demands and woefully behind inflation.
There are better ways already proven to work. If the State wants to be pragmatic in its tax dollar investment then it would pursue options which create long term individual benefit without substantially increasing the tax burden on all South Dakotans. Residents are already getting hammered on property taxes and insidious things like sales taxes on groceries. Stop grinding residents into the ground one penny at a time and look to more pragmatic solutions where residents can choose the solutions that work.