FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brandon Huether, Marketing and Communications Manager, CHAD
605-910-8150
bhuether@communityhealthcare.net
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Health and Community Organizations Respond Swiftly to Support Yankton Families after Job Losses
Hundreds affected by Cimpl’s closure receive help with health coverage, housing and food assistance through rapid response event.
YANKTON, SD — In response to the abrupt closure of Cimpl’s plant, which resulted in the termination of employment and benefits for hundreds of Yankton residents, local organizations mobilized quickly to provide critical support for affected families.
Get Covered South Dakota, South Dakota Voices for Peace, and Horizon Health hosted a health insurance enrollment event on April 28–30 at the United Way of Greater Yankton that helped dozens of individuals and families connect to the essential services they lost. The coordinated effort brought together health insurance navigators, interpreters, and community health workers to address barriers and offer one-on-one help at a critical moment to ensure these families facing uncertainty had immediate access to support for health care, food, and shelter.
“This was more than just health insurance application assistance,” said Penny Kelley from Get Covered South Dakota. “It was about providing safety, empathy, and hope. Many attendees arrived anxious and uncertain but left with reassurance and a renewed sense of community support.”
“We will all experience moments of upheaval in our lives that threaten to overwhelm our individual resources to respond,” said Shelly Ten Napel, CEO of the Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas, which coordinates Get Covered South Dakota. “As South Dakotans, it is part of our DNA to come together as a community to offer practical help and neighborly support during times of need.”
Get Covered South Dakota Navigators are trained and certified professionals who provide free assistance to help individuals understand their health insurance options and enroll in coverage that fits their needs and budget. Navigators are not insurance agents; they do not sell plans or receive commissions. Instead, they offer impartial guidance on Marketplace and Medicaid applications, explain eligibility for premium tax credits, and help compare plan options, all at no cost to the consumer. Individuals who have recently lost their jobs, such as the former employees at Cimpl, may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Marketplace health insurance. Additional qualifying life events include changes in income, loss of Medicaid or CHIP coverage, marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, or relocation to a new zip code. Members of federally recognized Tribes are eligible to enroll in Marketplace at any time. Medicaid enrollment is available year-round to eligible individuals.
Navigators are available to assist you via phone, Zoom, or in person, depending on your location and preference. To schedule a free appointment or learn more, visit www.getcoveredsouthdakota.org.
Get Covered South Dakota invites organizations, community leaders, and individuals across the state to connect with us during times of change and urgent need. If you or someone you know needs help with health insurance, our trained navigators are here to provide timely, and compassionate support.
###
About the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas
The Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas (CHAD) is a 501(c)3 membership organization serving as the primary care association for North Dakota and South Dakota. Our mission is to foster healthy communities by promoting and supporting programs that increase access to affordable, high-quality health care for all Dakotans. CHAD supports nine federally qualified health centers in North Dakota and South Dakota through training, technical assistance, and advocacy. CHAD has supported the efforts of health centers, which offer a unique model of high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered primary care, for over 35 years. To learn more, visit www.communityhealthcare.net.
This publication is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,600,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
