We recently saw it in the news, a prominent SD politician’s family member has a serious medical condition and they are seeking treatment . . . in Minnesota.
First off, I wish them the best, secondly I don’t blame them for wanting to go to one of the most advanced healthcare providers in the world. I have had many friends use the facility for all kinds of different treatments and have had great success.
But what I often find ironic is how our prominent politicians in the state will tell us how great our local Industrial Complex Healthcare providers are with research, treatment options, and jobs, jobs, jobs! Yet when one of them gets a serious condition, they run to Minnesota.
I wish they would go to Minnesota for legislative advice also, because we have a serious sickness in Pierre that needs advanced treatment.
Sanford has a monopoly. The care is acceptable but expensive and inferior compared to Minnesota. People go to Minnesota for lots of reasons. Tuition at U of Mn is the same as for SD. There’s full reciprocity. SD residents pay less than Mn residents. Mn is highly regarded and accepted nationally. USF tuition is double and when you apply for a job nationally it’s an unknown without Google research. Many bank in Mn. They keep your information confidential while SD will freeze an account without a court order. The city of Sioux Falls is known for this. It’s illegal but what isn’t in SD.
And likewise, foreign nationals travel great distance, sometimes from political systems which offer “free” healthcare, to seek evaluation and treatment at Mayo Clinic.
Why?
Because the Mayo Clinic offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of possibilities for diagnosis, treatment and cure. And they are among the best in the world.
South Dakotans can enjoy this world-class approach with far less commitment to travel … if your Obama-era catastrophic care “bronze” co-insurance policy for which you pay a monthly premium rivaling that of a monthly house mortgage will provide the benefit of 50% co-insurance payment for the care – after you satisfy the $7,500 annual personal deductible cost from your pocket.
#IrememberwhenIhadhealthinsurancewhichcoveredsomething
Sanford, Avera and Rapid City Regional all have virtual medical industry monopolies in their markets. Socialized agriculture, socialized dairies, socialized cheese, socialized livestock production, a socialized timber industry, socialized air service, socialized freight rail, a socialized nursing home industry and now socialized internet are all fine with Republicans in South Dakota but then they insist single-payer medical insurance is socialized medicine.
If policy makers had any balls whatsoever they’d bring legislation that would compel the medical industry to post the costs for all procedures.
So if these hospitals are monopolies like utilities are, or even oligopolies in their markets, why isn’t there a voter-elected public commission to regulate pricing?
Our insurance has never been better since ObamaCare and actually cheaper. But you know what a good conservative always says: “There are winners and losers in life, that is just how it is.”
Oh, and don’t we have over 20 million more Americans insured today thanks to ObamaCare?… Oh, and one last thing, how many times did the Republicans try to bring back the pre-existing condition clause by voting to repeal ObamaCare?… I forget.
And do you think that when some SD Democrats go to Mayo they unfortunately bring back Minnesota Republican values?….#IamJustAsking
Just like everything else in South Dakota, go socialist when the advantage is in their favor and claim it is market forces at work. The well known politician has made millions of dollars fleecing the population of South Dakota with insurance products benefiting his company.
Who has been forced to buy the policies that this politician has sold? Show me the pictures of him holding a gun to the head of the policy holders. His company is a middle man anyway- brokering (as an agent) someone else’s product.
Should SD be annexed into MN? Were it not for MN income tax, I’d live just across the border there. There’s a reason Sanford isn’t in MN. There’s a reason Lloyd can’t compete when it’s a competitive bid project in MN. The corruption keeps people broke from health care debt. Public projects cost double than for other states. Has anyone heard of usual bid process for the EC, the Aquatics Center, the Levitt, or the 3 new schools?
matt johnson, you must not have had your insurance poicy sucked into the politician’s insurance company without letting the policy holders know until months later when a bill arrived. sneaky and ruthless has been the process
Both Avera and Sanford provide top notch oncology treatment, but Rochester sets the bar in that area. I wouldn’t wish something like this on any one. But I think that anyone and everyone should have affordable and comprehensive care and the the freedom to choose where they receive that care. If the Rounds family decided that the best treatment was at Rochester, fine. But then shouldn’t every individual and family be afforded the same privilege? Rounds=entitlement
“Our insurance has never been better since ObamaCare and actually cheaper.”
Lemme guess, your spouse’s employer provides (i.e. pays for) health insurance coverage and neither of you have clue as to cost (that paid by the employer) of the policy on your behalf?
Or (in the vernacular offered at healthcare.gov), you qualify for ‘savings’ on a plan from the Marketplace, a.k.a. ‘financial help’ (if this is the case, “you are welcome”).
Genius, in the ‘Expensive Homes’ post, see the invitation extended to you to live the Social Contract.
TGfG,
It’s only gone up once since 2013. It’s private, and from day one, even before ObamaCare, we always took the high deductible insurance.
Who’s a hypocrite? Right wing extremists and fundamentalist Christians will go to the Mayo Clinic to save their personal and family’s health but sweep under the rug the fact that Mayo Clinic sells full abortion services. Don’t believe it? Here’s how to make an appointment and it’s probably safer and cleaner than an abortion in SD … https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/medical-abortion/about/pac-20394687
he did not and does not have an insurance company- he has an agency brokering insurance company plans; don’t know what happened to you but that would have been on the company; they must have been selected to service the company’s policies when some other agent failed
matt johnson should research what his agency company did to the insurance market in South Dakota and then there is the other insurance he controls that the public has no idea about
Mr Lansing,
For those who you mention, full abortion services, performed in a distant location and offering greater anonymity (the Mayo Clinic v. a PP location staffed by neighbors), might serve the same purpose as sending an unmarried pregnant girl “to live with Aunt Sally” in past eras.
I see the ‘SD Team’ referred Rounds’ wife to the ‘MN Team’.
http://dakotawarcollege.com/governor-mike-rounds-weekly-column-grateful-for-your-prayers/