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Medicaid is Health Insurance

Medicaid is a health insurance program that helps thousands of South Dakotans access needed health care. Together, the Get Covered Coalition is working to raise awareness, connect people with the help they need to enroll, and reduce barriers that prevent people from getting covered. To learn more and get involved, contact Liz Schenkel.

Medicaid Matters to Me

There are many misconceptions about Medicaid. Our goal is to break the stigmas surrounding Medicaid through storytelling. Here, you’ll find stories about how the program helps Dakotans live healthier lives in their time of need—and we invite you to share your own story. Why does Medicaid matter to you?

Featured Story

Erica Helped Non-English Speaking Woman Get Insured After Surgery While Pregnant

Erica Helped Non-English Speaking Woman Get Insured After Surgery While Pregnant

I work in Yankton, South Dakota for an organization called South Dakota Voices for Peace. My role there is to assist the community in navigating resources. I come from a background where, you know, I experienced some situations that I wish there was someone there I could go to, to ask for assistance. I always stress that here in the US, it is crucial to have medical insurance. It’s better to prevent than to wait until you know are very ill or something happens to you. Most of the time, individuals don’t have insurance when they come to see me. Because they are looking either to apply for Medicaid, or if they don’t qualify for Medicaid they’re looking for an alternative for that—which would be the Marketplace. I had this single mother who was pregnant and who had recently had surgery. I remember the day that she came to do the Medicaid application. It was the day after she had the surgery. Could you imagine? She was still in pain and she was very worried—and the fact that we were able to help her (in her language), to process that application. When we learned that she got approved, she got some sort of relief, you know. She was now insured! Now she has a job. She can provide for her family. Her baby still has Medicaid. It’s so reassuring to see that now she’s able to provide for her family and see her daughter grow happy and healthy. Situations like…

Stories

Liz Schenkel

CHAD’s SD Policy & Partnerships Manager

 

Nothing was left over to pay out-of-pocket costs if we did need care, so we often went without. Had Medicaid expansion been around in the early 2000s, or had my dad simply known to work a little less overtime, my story would likely be much different.

READ LIZ'S STORY (NOT LINKED YET)

Passionate about improving Medicaid in South Dakota?
Learn how you can join the Get Covered Coalition or email Liz at eschenkel@communityhealthcare.net. 

Through storytelling, we reduce stigma
and build meaningful connections.

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