Independent insurance · Sioux Falls
Medicare, life, and annuities — handled with care.
Independent insurance for the Sioux Falls area. We compare the plans we offer on both sides of the Big Sioux and match them to your life — no pressure, and no cost to you.
How it works
Medicare guidance at Big Sioux Benefits, in 3 steps
Schedule a free consultation
Tell us your doctors, prescriptions, and budget. No cost, no pressure.
Personal plan comparison
We compare the Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D plans we offer against your needs.
Enroll & ongoing local support
We handle enrollment and stay your local advisor for claims, appeals, and annual reviews.
Our services
Medicare Enrollment Assistance
Turning 65 or new to Medicare — we guide every step.
Plan Comparison
Advantage vs. Supplement vs. Part D, compared for your situation.
Annual Coverage Review
Plans change yearly. We check yours every fall so you never overpay.
Claims Support & Appeals
A real local advocate when something goes wrong.
Turning 65 Consultations
A clear roadmap for your Initial Enrollment Period.
Drug Cost Review
Make sure your prescriptions are covered at the best price.
Medicare products we offer
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Part D Prescription Drug Plans
Dental, Vision & Hearing
Hospital Indemnity
Life & Final Expense
Local & data-driven
We know the Siouxland Medicare market — by the numbers
Sioux Falls (Minnehaha County) has 22 Medicare plans for 2026 — and across the Big Sioux in Iowa, Sioux County has even more, at 28 (CMS PY2026). We compare both sides so you don't have to. See Sioux Falls plan data →
From the blog
Latest Medicare guidance
Medicare Annual Notice of Change 2027: How to Read Yours Line by Line
Your 2027 Medicare ANOC must arrive by September 30, 2026 — two weeks before the October 15 Annual Enrollment Period opens. Here's the full guide: what the ANOC actually is and who sends it, how it differs from the longer Evidence of Coverage, the five sections that decide whether it matters (premiums, drug formulary tiers, network, benefits, and star rating), what changed nationally under CMS's April 2026 Contract Year 2027 final rule, the Part D out-of-pocket cap climbing from $2,100 in 2026 toward a reported $2,400 in 2027, a worked example showing how a falling premium can hide a rising drug cost, and the Sanford-vs-Avera network angle that makes this letter matter more in Sioux Falls than almost anywhere else. Includes free help through South Dakota's SHIINE program.
Read →
Medicare Prior Authorization Denied? Your Step-by-Step Appeal Guide for 2026
Medicare Advantage insurers denied about 4.1 million of the 52.8 million prior authorization requests they received in 2024 — a 7.7% denial rate — yet only 11.5% of those denials were ever appealed, even though 80.7% of appeals were overturned. Here's the full 2026 guide: what prior authorization actually means, the five levels of a Medicare appeal from plan reconsideration through federal court, the new CMS decision deadlines (72 hours expedited, 7 days standard) that took effect January 1, 2026, how step therapy and Part D formulary exceptions work, and a worked example showing why appealing an inpatient rehab denial is almost always worth it. Includes free help through South Dakota's SHIINE program.
Read →
Medicare in Minnehaha & Lincoln County: Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg & Tea
Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls, Brandon) and Lincoln County (Harrisburg, Tea, Canton) share one CMS pricing area, so the 8 standard Medicare Advantage PPOs cost exactly the same in both — same premiums, same $4,900–$6,750 out-of-pocket maximums, same $0-premium options. What genuinely differs: Minnehaha's 40,327 Medicare beneficiaries vs. Lincoln's 12,156, which plan each county's neighbors actually chose, the CDC chronic-condition rates tracked separately for each county, and access to Avera Heart Hospital's 5-star rating in Lincoln alongside Sanford USD Medical Center's 5 stars in Minnehaha. Includes the shared 8-plan roster, Medicare Cost plan and Special Needs Plan access, a Medigap contrast (no county lines at all), and what actually happens if you move between Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, and Tea.
Read →Common Medicare questions — answered
Does it cost anything to work with Big Sioux Benefits?
No. Our help is free to you — licensed agents are paid by the insurance carriers, not by you. You get unbiased local guidance at no cost.
Which areas do you serve?
We serve the Sioux Falls metro & Siouxland — eastern South Dakota, northwest Iowa & southwest Minnesota, including Sioux Falls, Brandon, Harrisburg, and Tea (SD) plus nearby northwest Iowa communities like Sioux Center and Rock Valley.
When can I enroll in or change my Medicare plan?
Your first window is the Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday. After that, the Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct 15–Dec 7 each year, plus Special Enrollment Periods for qualifying life events. We'll tell you exactly which window applies to you.
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