What are individual health insurance options in SD? (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: to buy, living)

[desfleurs]

We are retiring but do not qualify for Medicare yet and will need private health insurance. We are thinking of relocating to Hot Springs. What are the options in SD for private insurance?

[Dick13]

I kept the same insurance I had when I lived in Wi so I have to assume the options are the same here as anywhere else.

[jmgg]

As I understand it, if you have group coverage you can still keep your insurance if you move to South Dakota. Anybody fortunate enough to have employer group coverage not affiliated with the 2 hospitals in SF can use either and be covered.

If you don't, you'll need to buy it from the exchange. In eastern SD you have 2 choices. Either Avera Medical Group or Sanford Medical Group. When you get one of these you're locked into using their facilities and their doctors as the other won't accept your insurance. Even using large independent clinics like Orthopedic Institute or independent hospitals like Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital are not allowed on their plan. The only way you can have anything covered outside of their plan is if it's for something they do not offer or you're having to receive some type of service where you're not close to one of their facilities.

Out in the West River country, I "believe" you might be able to get a plan through Monumental Health which is most likely connected to Rapid City Regional Hospital. Someone living west river can fill you in if this is correct.