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Governor On Medicaid Expansion: 'Not Now'

Governor Dennis Daugaard says he stands by his decision not to grow South Dakota’s Medicaid program for now. This comes one day after a poll shows a majority of South Dakotans supports expanding Medicaid. Some 20,000 adults in South Dakota make too much for current Medicaid standards but too little to purchase insurance on the new health insurance exchange. Daugaard says he doesn’t recommend expanding Medicaid this year.

"So I think it’s worth seeing how this plays out, and I think it’s also worth encourage those who want insurance and can be subsidized to go get it, to help themselves," Daugaard says. "So I think it’s worth seeing how this plays out. And it’s not a never; it’s a not-now decision." 

Daugaard says it’s worth being careful and patient because the rollout of the health insurance exchange relies on young, healthy people signing up for coverage. He says that’s unreliable so far. 

The polling released from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network says 63 percent of the 400 people surveyed want South Dakota to expand Medicaid.

Cara Hetland is the Director of Radio and Journalism Content for South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).