South Dakota Health Care: Accessible and Affordable for All

Access to health care, cost of services, insurance coverage, and financial responsibility for health care are all concerns of AARP members in South Dakota, according to 1,092 members age 50-64 who responded to a survey conducted between September 19 and October 30, 2007. While fewer than 10 percent of respondents were uninsured, less than the 16 percent uninsured rate for adults in the state, these members remain concerned about the affordability of health care in the future and believe that all South Dakotans deserve adequate and accessible health care.

Key findings included the following:

• Two in three respondents are extremely or very concerned about having access to health care services and providers that they need.
• Approximately seven in ten members are extremely or very concerned about being able to afford services in the next five years.
• Nine in ten respondents strongly or somewhat agree that all South Dakotans should have access to affordable and adequate health care coverage.
• Eight in ten strongly or somewhat agree that everyone, including employers, employees, individuals, and the government, should contribute to a system to provide access to affordable and adequate health care coverage.

 

This survey was commissioned by AARP South Dakota to explore how members age 50-64 feel about health care reform. Mail surveys were sent to a randomly selected sample of 2,000 members between the ages of 50 and 64, and 1,092 returned completed questionnaires by the survey end date. Further information about the survey may be obtained by contacting Erica Dinger of AARP Knowledge Management at 202-434-6176. (18 pages)