South Dakota Long-Term Care

Federal Partnership Program

The South Dakota Long-Term Care Partnership Program, administered by the Department of Social Services and Division of Insurance, provides an alternative to spending down or transferring assets by forming a partnership between Medicaid and private long-term care insurers.

This public-private partnership is an innovative program offering individuals quality, affordable long-term care insurance and a way to receive the care they need without depleting all their assets. The greatest and most unique benefit of a Partnership policy is Medicaid asset protection.

This feature provides “dollar for dollar” asset protection: for every dollar that a partnership policy pays out in benefits, a dollar of assets can be protected from the long-term care Medicaid resource limit. When determining long-term care Medicaid eligibility, any assets you have up to the amount the Partnership policy paid in benefits will be disregarded.

Policy Example

For example, if your Partnership policy paid $200,000 in benefits, South Dakota's Medicaid program would allow you to keep $200,000 in assets and still qualify for Medicaid assistance. The amount of assets you are able to protect under the Partnership is in addition to the $2,000 everyone is allowed to keep, including any assets your spouse may be allowed to retain. The Partnership Program also protects those assets after death from Medicaid estate recovery.

Reciprocity

Most states have reciprocity with other states' long-term-care partnership programs including South Dakota. This means if you move from or to South Dakota your partnership asset protection follows you as well.

Medicaid

Long-Term Care Medicaid spend down is $2,000. A spouse’s minimum asset allowance is minimum of $26,076 up to a maximum of one-half of countable assets up to $130,380.   Your spouse’s minimum monthly income allowance is $2,155. * The home equity limit is $603,000.

For more information about the Medicaid program visit www.medicaid.gov.

Rate Stability Rules

In addition, South Dakota consumers enjoy additional peace-of-mind as the state has adopted Long-Term Care Insurance Rate Stability Rules.  These rules, developed the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, makes it much harder for an insurance company to get an approved rate increase.

Products Approved in South Dakota

A variety of products are approved in South Dakota for Long-Term Care planning. This includes the traditional plans, including partnership certified policies, short-duration policies, and asset-based “hybrid” policies.

Tax Incentives

South Dakota does not offer any state tax incentive for qualified long-term care insurance; however, federal tax incentives are still available.

_{*The federal government sets a new minimum and maximum amounts each year, but states can set their own minimum requirements at any level between the federal limits. This information is based on the best available sources.}