South Dakotans who don’t have insurance are more likely to skip cancer screenings. Figures from the South Dakota Department of Health show insurance status affects patients’ preventative care decisions.
Health leaders are examining cancer screening rates, and they say a stark division emerges when breaking down the numbers.
Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon leads South Dakota’s Department of Health. She says people without insurance receive fewer cancer screenings than people with health coverage.
"In the case of mammograms, our statewide rate, 73.5, rises to 76.5 if the person has insurance, down to 36.8 for those without insurance," Malsam-Rysdon says. "Colorectal? Same scenario: 62.5 statewide, rises to 66.7 with insurance, down to 26.5 without insurance."
Malsam-Rysdon says preventative care improves patient health. It also saves money, because advanced disease is more costly to treat. Malsam-Rysdon says financial barriers can keep people from proper health care; so can distance.
"We, by necessity and via innovation, use technology to a very great degree, and that helps benefit folks that live in those less-populated areas. So we have great telehealth networks; we see great outcomes from that as a service," Malsam-Rysdon says. "So I would put the quality of health care in South Dakota up against any other state’s any day.
Malsam-Rysdon says the state’s ongoing challenge is getting people access to medical care despite the distance.
State officials say an insurance change affecting thousands of South Dakotans serves as a reminder to read the fine print in health coverage. Sanford Health announced plans to stop accepting DakotaCare at the end of the year. Malsam-Rysdon says health insurance is complicated, and people must advocate for their own care.
"Try to understand the basics of your insurance policy and how different coverage impacts what you’re going to have to pay out of pocket. I think sometimes people get surprised by that," Malsam-Rysdon says. "And, you know, a little bit of research before you actually need the care can go a long way towards a less stressful situation."
Malsam-Rysdon says private companies and public programs are evolving quickly. She says senior citizens who want help understanding their Medicare benefits can use the state’s SHIINE program.
