skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Cover the Uninsured Week in South Dakota

play audio
Play

Tuesday, April 24, 2007   



Sioux Falls, SD - This is “Cover the Uninsured Week” and the state's community healthcare centers are working to draw attention to the 16,000 South Dakota children who don't have health insurance. Mary O'Meary Metz with the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas says 8 out of 10 children nationwide who are uninsured come from working families.

“It's not like we've got all these people that have no jobs that are uninsured. And, in fact, 23 percent of the nation's uninsured workers are in firms that employ 500 people or more. So, there's just a lot of issues around people being uninsured. It is not necessarily because they don't have jobs.”

O'Meary Metz notes that the state is gaining some ground using a South Dakota insurance risk pool, which was created in 2003 to provide coverage to families who have lost coverage. But she adds the catch is that families have to show proof they had credible insurance before they can be accepted into the pool.

“There are some caveats with it. If you've got a chronic disease and you haven't been currently insured you're not eligible for the risk pool either. So, it's not the cure all for everyone. The legislature in 2005 did pass a law that dependents can have access to insurance up to their 19th birthday. And if they're a full-time student they can even have it up to their 24th birthday through this risk pool.”

O'Meary Metz points out that there's a huge risk for people without coverage. She says 18,000 Americans die each year because they don't have health insurance.

“So, what we need to do is encourage people to check on this risk pool, to talk to their employers about group plans and/or to seek out a community health center where, at least, they can get some of their routine care at a discounted cost to the patient. That's important because, if you take good care of yourself, you're less likely to get terminally ill.”



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Including the $236 million in federal funding for wildland fire management recently announced for 2025, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has invested a total of $1 billion to the cause, according to the Department of the Interior. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

This month, the federal government announced funding for next year's wildfire management, totaling $236 million and experts hope threatened …


Social Issues

play sound

From gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to Superintendent of Public Instruction hopeful Michele Morrow, some Republicans running for office have …

Social Issues

play sound

California is home to more than 181,000 people who are unhoused, with 75,000 in Los Angeles alone, so the Los Angeles Food Policy Council will host a …


The California Department of Conservation is holding a public meeting online on Sept. 24, to update the public on its progress in plugging abandoned oil wells. (Alizada Studios/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Groups concerned about pollution and climate change are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a trio of bills dubbed the "make polluters pay" package…

Social Issues

play sound

This week, National Voter Registration Day was another timely reminder for Ohioans preparing for the 2024 general election. The latest reports from …

The American Heart Association said caregivers often experience personal and spiritual growth, discovering their own resilience, competence and capacity for sacrifice as they help a friend or loved one. (Justlight/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

September is Self-Care Awareness Month and the American Heart Association in Missouri is urging caregivers to take some much-needed time for themselve…

Environment

play sound

In Virginia's waters, the decline of a small but critically important fish is causing growing concern among conservation groups and fishermen alike…

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado voters will decide whether to change the state's constitution to ensure families have school choice as a fundamental right. Kallie Leyba…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021