How to renew your South Dakota Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from South Dakota Medicaid

Always respond to official renewal notices from South Dakota Medicaid. Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Keep your contact information current with DSS — renewal notices go to your address on file

South Dakota DSS sends renewal notices by mail and through the Electronic Assistance Portal. Members with outdated addresses may miss their notices and lose coverage. Call 1-888-828-0059 or visit your local county DSS office to update your contact information at any time.

How South Dakota Medicaid renews your coverage

South Dakota DSS renews Medicaid eligibility annually. DSS first attempts an ex parte review — using electronic data from the Social Security Administration, state wage databases, and other sources to verify eligibility without requiring member action. When electronic verification is successful, coverage renews automatically and DSS sends a notice.

When electronic verification fails, DSS mails a renewal packet to your address on file. You must return the completed form with required documentation by the deadline on the notice — typically 30 days. Missing the deadline causes coverage to terminate, though you can reapply at any time through eaportal.sd.gov.

How to complete your South Dakota Medicaid renewal

1

Watch for your renewal notice

DSS sends renewal notices by mail approximately 60–90 days before your coverage anniversary. Your renewal month is the same every year. Keep your address current — call 1-888-828-0059 or visit your county DSS office to update it.
2

Review and update your information

Confirm that income, household members, address, and citizenship/immigration status are still accurate. Report any changes — a new job, a move, or a change in household size.
3

Provide documentation if DSS requests it

DSS may request pay stubs, a Social Security award letter, or proof of South Dakota residency if electronic verification is insufficient. Respond by the deadline in your notice.
4

Submit your renewal

Complete your renewal online at eaportal.sd.gov, by calling 1-888-828-0059, by mail, or in person at your local DSS county office. Online is fastest.
5

Confirm your coverage is active

After DSS processes your renewal, confirm that your coverage is active before scheduling services. Call 1-888-828-0059 if you're unsure of your coverage status.

Documents that may be needed at renewal

Recent pay stubs or self-employment income records
Social Security or SSI award letter if receiving benefits
Proof of South Dakota residency — utility bill, lease, bank statement
Immigration documents if your status has changed
Documentation of household changes

South Dakota's unique renewal challenge: a new expansion population

South Dakota faces a renewal dynamic that older expansion states don't: a large portion of its expansion enrollees — adults who gained coverage under Amendment D starting July 1, 2023 — began reaching their first annual renewal milestone in 2024. Many of these members had no prior Medicaid enrollment history and may have been unfamiliar with the renewal process.

Per KFF tracking data, South Dakota had some coverage losses during the unwinding period and as new enrollees hit their first renewals. If you are among those who enrolled after July 2023 and were subsequently disenrolled, you may still qualify. Reapply at eaportal.sd.gov — eligibility is determined at the time of application, not based on past enrollment status.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost South Dakota Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact South Dakota Medicaid to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When South Dakota Medicaid sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

South Dakota Medicaid's online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call South Dakota Medicaid to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact South Dakota Medicaid within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact South Dakota Medicaid or update your information through the online portal at https://dss.sd.gov/medicaid.