South Dakota
AARP, or the American Association of Retired Persons, estimates that South Dakota’s senior population will increase by as much as 40% in 2030. Calculations point out that the number of individuals aged 85 and above will rise by 39% in a span of 23 years. Some of these individuals rely on long term care due to aging-related illnesses and weakness of the physical body.
In addition, more than one-third of South Dakota’s skilled nursing facilities earned an above-average rating from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in November 2009.
Trust for America’s Health reported that 22% of South Dakota’s residents were classified as smokers in 2012.
Diabetes affected 10% of South Dakota residents in 2011, according to the state’s Department of Health. This chronic illness was mostly prevalent among elderly adults and low-income families. In the same year, 24% of the state’s population faced challenges with everyday tasks due to a disability. Survey facilitators found physical and cognitive disabilities in 29% of adults aged 45 to 64.
Cost of Care
Below are the average daily cost* of long term care services in South Dakota.
| City | Nursing Facility1 | Assisted Living1 | Adult Day Care2 | Home Health Aide3 |
| Pierre | $232 | $65 | N/A | $120 |
| Sioux Falls | $209 | $102 | $63 | $132 |
Notes:
*Costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
1Daily average for a private room.
2Based on five days of care per week.
3Based on six hours of care per day, five days per week.
Insurance Options
Genworth’s sales of Long Term Care Insurance Partnership policies started on March 31, 2008. Partnership guidelines assigned inflation protection options according to the enrollee’s age.
On August 19, 2013, John Hancock added South Dakota along with four other states to the insurer’s recently-developed web marketing system called LTC Captivate. John Hancock also oversaw gender-based pricing in the state on the same date.
Changes in the preferred health and spousal discounts for MedAmerica’s FlexCare LTCI product took effect on October 11, 2013.
LTCI policies can also be bought from American General Life, Continental Casualty, Massachusetts Mutual, New York Life, State Farm, and Transamerica.
State Long Term Care Programs
Medicare beneficiaries in South Dakota can save more than $1,000 of health-related expenses annually. These beneficiaries can get one form of help in long term care or another through coverage from Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B.
Meanwhile, the state’s Federally-facilitated Marketplace offers Medicaid coverage based on a partnership model. The Medicaid/Chip Application is also underway.
According to a December 2012 report by the South Dakota Department of Social Services, 25% of the state’s elderly adults relied on Medicaid to receive care in assisted living facilities. More than 50% of senior nursing care recipients also depended on benefits from the federal health program. The report states that South Dakota had over 15,000 dual eligibles, or enrollees in both Medicare and Medicaid.
South Dakota provides LTCI benefits to state employees, the retirees, and their families as well. Unum Insurance served as the insurer for this state coverage.
More Resources
To get more specific information regarding long term care services and insurance options in South Dakota, please check the following websites:
American Medical Directors Association
Provides state-based resources about long term care and health-related organizations.
Offers information and links about care services, government programs, and caregiver support.
Compare Plan Options in South Dakota
Get quotes for insurance coverage and options available in your area. Simply fill the form below with your information:
By clicking submit, you agree to be contacted by a representative who will process your quote request and answer your questions.
