Broadcaster Press 11 November 7, 2017 www.broadcasteronline.com Health Insurance Open Enrollment Began Nov. 1 PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Division of Insurance reminds consumers the 2018 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment began on Nov. 1 for those with individual policies. Open enrollment offers South Dakotans the opportunity to review and/or purchase health insurance coverage from options available in the general market as well as the federally facilitated health care exchange, known as the Marketplace. “The ongoing discussions at the federal level have created uncertainty around healthcare coverage,” said Division Director Larry Deiter. “Consumers are encouraged to gather as much information as possible on the current healthcare environment in order to make the most informed decision possible.” Some important factors to keep in mind for those with individually-purchased health insurance: • The 2018 open enrollment period is only 45 days, running from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, 2017. Coverage begins Jan. 1, 2018. • Cost sharing reduction (CSR) payment funding has been discontinued, as indicated in a statement issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on Oct. 12. The elimination of this funding may impact existing plan structure or premiums, especially for those with silver level plans where these subsidies to reduce deductibles, copayments and coinsurance for qualified individuals applied. • If you currently have coverage through the Marketplace, you are subject to auto re-enrollment in your same plan or a similar plan if you do not choose a plan for 2018. “Health care insurance plan particulars, premiums and carrier availability change from year to year,” said Deiter. “Consumers are encouraged to review their existing plan to determine if it continues to meet their coverage needs or if they should explore other options available.” A local health insurance agent can provide assistance in identifying any changes in health care needs and discuss plan benefit options available for 2018. Consumers can search for Marketplace certified agents and brokers in their area through the “Find local help” link at healthcare.gov. Consumers should ask questions about any insurance policy they are considering for purchase. The plan being offered may be a type of health insurance, but may not be a comprehensive major medical policy that will provide complete health coverage. Consumers receiving unsolicited contact from anyone attempting to sell health insurance should follow these tips: • Check dlr.sd.gov/insurance for additional information on carriers selling insurance in South Dakota. • Be aware healthcare.gov is the official website for the federal Marketplace. The site has information on the ACA, qualified health plans and comparisons of Marketplace plans available in 2018. Be cautious of other similar sounding names or websites. • The federal government and Marketplace will not call selling health insurance. • No one offering comprehensive health care coverage will ask about pre-existing conditions. • Do not provide Social Security numbers, bank account details or health information. If you are pressured to provide this information, hang up. • Never agree to any request to send money, especially if presented over the phone. • Ask for written information about the policy, including premiums. Get the facts up front, before buying, in order to understand what the policy will and will not do. Two health insurance carriers, Avera Health Plan and Sanford Health Plan, were approved by the Division to sell individual comprehensive health policies during the 2018 open enrollment. Any other company offering health coverage is not approved to sell comprehensive coverage in South Dakota. Questions or concerns can be directed to the South Dakota Division of Insurance at 605-773-3563 or insurance@ state.sd.us. What everyone is reading. www.broadcasteronline.com Get Serious About Tackling Opioid Abuse www.plaintalk.net Tell them you saw it in the Broadcaster! 624-4429 By Gov. Dennis Daugaard This week President Trump declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. According to the White House, in our country, drug overdose deaths now outnumber fatal crashes and gun-related deaths, with 175 Americans dying each day. An estimated 11.5 million people self-reported misusing opioids in 2016. And the numbers of infants born drug-dependent and children placed in foster care because of parental drug abuse have both increased substantially. Fortunately, South Dakota’s prescription drug overdose death rate remains relatively low. Still, every one of these deaths is a tragedy, and for too many South Dakota families, opioid addiction hits close to home. Jeff and Maureen Deutscher of Sioux Falls experienced something no parent should when, in July of 2015, they lost their son Nick after his battle with addiction. An active, athletic student, Nick was on the high school football team. After he sustained a football injury and was prescribed prescription drugs by his physician, Nick became addicted. Since their son’s tragic death, the Deutschers have become advocates for preventing opioid abuse. They are a part of a statewide advisory committee which has been meeting over the past year to address this problem in our state. 201 W. Cherry • Vermillion, SD The committee also includes health care professionals, law enforcement, policymakers and state government officials. Together, this group has developed a strategic plan to address opioid abuse in South Dakota. The plan identifies four key areas of focus: prevention and early identification; treatment and recovery; reducing illicit supply; and emergency response to opioid abuse and misuse. Tell them you saw it in the Broadcaster! 624-4429 Tell them you saw it in the Broadcaster! 624-4429 Tell them you saw it in the Broadcaster! 201 W. Cherry • Vermillion, SD 624-4429 To address this problem, systemic changes are required. For instance, earlier this year I signed a bill into law which requires doctors to enter painkiller prescriptions into a statewide database within 24 hours. Also, health care providers are providing additional guidance to their physicians on when to prescribe these drugs. Addressing the issue will also require action on an individual level. That’s Book of the advisory council’s key stratewhy one 64 Intermediate Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad roadcaster ress gies is to promote the disposal of unused or unwanted drugs, Fill the puzzle so that every row, every column, and every so they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Law enforcement agencies across Sudoku #5 the state promoted Saturday, Oct. 28, as section contain the numbers 1-9 without repeating a number. Sudoku #6 Book 64: Answers Easy Sudoku Puzzles by KrazyDad National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This gives South Dakotans the opportunity to prevent#1 abuse and theft by pill Sudoku 2 unused Sudoku #2 3 2 8 4 ridding their homes of potentially4dangerous expired, 6 2 8 7 3 9 5 1 2 8 6 7 9 4 5 1 3 and unwanted prescription drugs.5 2service is free and 5 3 6 5 7 3 2 3 6 8 9 4 1 2 8 1 The 4 9 8 7 8 5 6 anonymous, no questions asked. 7 9 6 5 1 2 3 4 3 9 4 5 8 1 7 2 6 If Take Back Day has passed7 by the 9time 5you read this or 8 1 6 3 1 2 8 2 4 4 9 6 1 64 7 3 4 8 7 75 2 5 9 9 you can’t make it 5 one of the 3 9 5 1 6check with your to locations, 4 1 2 7 8 3 1 local pharmacist or law enforcement for 3 2 4 9 5disposal 1 8 6 7 additional 7 4 5 8 2 9 6 3 1 9 options available 8 year-round. In the 7near 1future, 4 7 2 6 8 2 the Board 5 9 8 1 2 3 4 7 9 6 52 3 9 5 8 permanent 6 6 3 7 9 5 2 1 4 8 of Pharmacy hopes to establish these 4 2 7 3 1 take back 3 7 9 2 4 5 9 1 6 8 3 7 2 sites throughout the state. 6 4 3 1 5 3 6 7 8 4 With the problem escalating at the national level, now is 5 8 the time to get serious about1 6 #3 tackling opioid abuse. We need Sudoku Sudoku #4 all hands on deck. Health care 7 5 1 3 8 governments, comproviders, 6 2 9 4 5 8 4 9 6 1 7 2 3 munities and individuals all have 388 9 to play. We6owe it to 1 a role 2 1 5 7 9 1 7 4 2 3 55 6 8 4 9 8 1 9 2 6 7 3 8 1 3 6 2 5 8 7 4 1 9 the Nicks out there who are struggling 4with5addiction, and to 3 89 2 1 6 4 3 1 7 9 5 2 6 81 7 the Jeffs and Maureens who are fighting for 4their5loved one, 7 9 6 4 7 2 4 9 5 6 3 7 1 8 7 5 8 2 3 6 9 4 1 not to wait another day. bpp b Since 1934 Since 1934 Broadcaster Press P B bp Broadcaster bp B Since 1934 Since 1934 1 6 75 6 5 8 9 7 2 3 6 2 © 2008 KrazyDad.com 8 3 7 1 4 5 4 Romsdahl’s 1 3 6 9 4 8 7 2 7 4 1 5 8 2 9 Repair & Remodel Sudoku #7 5 6 3 9 Carpentry, Decks, 1 7 5 6 Windows9 &8 Doors, 3 1 7 9 4 2 Refinishing, Drywall, & 4 Ceramic6 Tile9 38 1 5 3 8 4 Sudoku #5 2 9 3 8 4 4 5 7 6 2 1 8 6 3 5 5 7 2 4 3 6 1 9 2 7 3 4 8 9 1 18 Years 7 2 5 1 6 8 3 4 5 9 9 6 1 7 8 4 Press roadcaster Press 3 6 9 6 1 4 8 3 7 5 7 5 3 1 2 8 9 4 1 4 intermediate 2 3 8 7 9 6 5 8 2 9 6 5 4 1 3 7 2 6 Last tuesday’s Sudoku Solution #6 4 6 8 2 3 1 7 9 5 Sudoku 9 2 7 3 6 5 #8 4 1 8 9 5 1 4 7 8 6 3 2 7 3 4 9 1 2 5 8 6 6 8 5 7 4 3 9 2 1 1 9 2 8 6 5 3 4 7 5 1 6 3 2 4 8 7 9 8 4 7 1 9 6 2 5 3 3 2 9 5 8 7 1 6 4 © 2008 KrazyDad.com int BOOK 64 #6 su do ku 3 9 © 2008 Krazydad.com Check 7 8 2 4 next tuesday’s paper for in Business 3 2 4 9 8 the solution to today’s puzzle. 2 1 7 Free Estimates 8 1 1 4 7 4 5 ea BOOK 64 #6 1 605-670-2161 8 4 5 7 8 Sudoku #7 Sudoku #8 3 2 8 1 6 6 2 5 3 6 2 4 3 9 5 7 1 9 5 7 3 4 6 8 2