A new report says some children in South Dakota are going without adequate healthcare. An expert says the pandemic could be to blame.
South Dakota Kids Count is a nonprofit that looks at data on children’s well-being across the state. The organization conducted a survey last year and found 18 thousand children in South Dakota are not covered by health insurance.
Xanna Burg is the Kids Count coordinator for South Dakota. She says the pandemic could cause the number of children without health insurance to rise even higher.
“And really this is another one that we’re concerned about may have increased as a result of the pandemic since health insurance is often tied to employment. So just another one to keep an eye on as we recover.”
The Kids Count report ranks South Dakota 33rd in the country for children’s healthcare.
This story comes from a recent interview on SDPB's weekday radio program, "In the Moment." Listen to the full interview below.