When compared to the rest of the nation’s states and territories, South Dakota ranks first in terms of the assistance and education provided to those on Medicare. The federal Department of Health and Human Services funds a Senior Health Insurance Program in each state. Jamie Seiner is the director for the South Dakota program.
Seiner says SHIINE helps anyone needing assistance with the Medicare programs, and this ranking was given after an assessment of eight different measures of the state program.
Siener says South Dakota deserves the top ranking because of all the work put into the program in 2014.
She says they will continue to improve through extended relations with other agencies and by branching out education into more rural communities throughout South Dakota. Anyone interested in SHIINE consultation is encouraged to contact one of their regional coordinators.
