Codington County Delays Health Insurance Decision; Watertown Agent Raises Network Concerns

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - A representative from Wishard Insurance urged the Codington County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, to consider the long-term impact of narrow health insurance networks on smaller local health care providers.

Jody Peterson of Wishard Insurance in Watertown spoke during the open public comment portion of Tuesday's meeting at the Codington County Courthouse. Earlier in the session, commissioners voted to delay action on proposals for the county's employee health insurance plan for one week, including quotes from Kranz Insurance, Wishard Insurance, and Leavitt Group.

Concerns Over Narrow Networks and Local Providers

Peterson acknowledged that Codington County is currently insured through a Sanford Health Plan policy and that selecting a narrow network is a straightforward route to a lower-cost policy. However, she encouraged the board to look at long-term longevity and employee education through incremental plan adjustments.

"If you're looking at longevity, trying to change things over time, it's a little bit harder, but it requires education, which is what we consider ourselves as educators, educating your employees that insurance moving forward is going to have to look different," Peterson said.

Peterson added that her agency's proposal focuses on small adjustments to preserve broader network options over the next 10 years, noting that narrow networks can affect independent providers in smaller communities.

"Our town is really small compared to other places where some of these narrow networks are offered, and it's going to smother out our little mom and pop businesses because they don't have the label," Peterson said. "Maybe not tomorrow, but it's just, I feel it's kind of a slippery slope. So just my opinion and just wanted to share that with you guys."

Employee Education and Medicare Changes

Commissioners also thanked Peterson and her agency for hosting Medicare educational programs, which began Tuesday.

Peterson noted that Medicare is also undergoing changes, adding that educating employees early helps them prepare and make necessary adjustments ahead of time.