Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026

Will South Dakota lose millions in federal funding for Medicaid over the next decade?

yes

During the South Dakota U.S. House debate, Nikki Gronli said South Dakota will lose an estimated $931 million over the next 10 years from national cuts from the Big Beautiful Bill, which is true.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps cover medical costs for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly and people with disabilities.

The bill, passed in July 2025, aims to cut nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid coverage for enrollees nationwide, including reportedly 13,000 South Dakotans.

The South Dakota Department of Social Services website says coverage will not change for most people, but it does not provide details.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

KFF Allocating CBO’s Estimates of Federal Medicaid Spending Reductions and Enrollment Loss Across the States: House Reconciliation Bill
South Dakota Department of Social Services South Dakota Medicaid: Eligibility Changes Coming Soon
South Dakota Searchlight 13,000 South Dakotans would lose Medicaid if ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ passes, research group says

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network.

See all fact briefs

Will South Dakota lose millions in federal funding for Medicaid over the next decade?

Sources

About fact briefs

Latest Fact Briefs

Did the One Big Beautiful Bill provide South Dakota with millions for rural health care?

Can political ads use images of journalists without permission?

Does South Dakota have the lowest child care rates in the nation?

Be a Friend of facts