South Dakota Democratic Party Issues Statement on Requested Premium Rate Increases for Individual Health Coverage for 2018

PIERRE, S.D., Aug. 17 -- The South Dakota Democratic Party issued the following statement by Sam Parkinson, Executive Director on report on requested premium rate increases for individual health coverage for 2018:

protect affordable healthcare"South Dakota's insurance companies agree - the instability and uncertainty in insurance markets caused by Republicans is contributing to higher premiums for South Dakotans. The companies also agree that premiums would increase even more if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to sabotage insurance markets by withholding cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments.

"It is long past time for Trump and Republicans in Congress - including Kristi Noem, Mike Rounds, and John Thune - to stop playing games with people's lives and start working with Democrats to build upon the progress made under the Affordable Care Act to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all."