Last year’s Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51-thousand adults. But the latest review of the program shows, of all people across the state who qualify, only 39% are enrolled. Groups likely to be uninsured include young adults and American Indian young adults– about half of whom are uninsured, but now qualify for Medicaid benefits.
Kids Count Director Xanna Burg says low enrollment rates are, in part, due to timing. She says the expansion was rolling out just as states were ending the federal requirement that kept everyone on Medicaid covered during the pandemic.
“I think having those happen in tandem hurt the ability to really do this significant outreach to eligible populations. Because you’re trying to deliver one message saying, ‘We’ve expanded eligibility,’ and then there’s this other message that’s saying, ‘You need to, like, re-enroll.’”
Burg says one challenge for enrollment is, the information that helps determine eligibility is housed under different programs in the state. She says more communication could boost the numbers.
“So, thinking about where programs can talk to each other, whether it’s through SNAP or WIC or the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program, working across agencies to really identify these populations that might be eligible.”
The expansion actually increased the income level for households to qualify – from just over $14-thousand a year for a family of four, to about $43-thousand. State officials say it could take up to two years to reach full enrollment.
South Dakota Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff has said some people who were dis-enrolled are making more income and no longer qualify, and that should be celebrated.
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