Health Insurance Options For Farm Families

Finding affordable health insurance has been a difficult task for farm families. I have been told a family of 4 may be paying $30,000 a year in premiums and also have a very high deductible. In many cases the husband or wife will have a full time job off the farm that provides access to a group plan that is much more affordable. If that job covers just covers the health insurance it is considered a well paying job. However, when no one works off the farm the premiums are a major hardship especially with low commodity prices.

One question I always wondered about is why can't a farm group, commodity organization or maybe local Co-op form an insurance group for their farmers like most business do for their employees? Well, I guess someone else did like Central Farm Services or CFS. CFS will be hosting an informational meeting this afternoon from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Cabela's in Owatonna.

The meeting this afternoon will be in Cabela's upstairs meeting room. CFS will host a presentation by 40 Square Cooperative Solutions that is working to bring sustainable health plan options to Minnesota farm families and their employees. Open enrollment will be from November 1 through December 15, 2017. Coverage will be effective January 1, 2018. With the nice weather I am sure there will be many combines rolling this afternoon but hopefully someone from your family can attend.