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Earlier this week, Ohio Farm Bureau testified before the Ohio Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee in support of SB 100, which would result in access to affordable, personalized health care plans for Ohio farm families who do not have access to health insurance as an employee benefit or who are uninsured or underinsured due to high costs and limited options in the marketplace.

In her testimony Whittney Bowers, Ohio Farm Bureau director of state policy, shared that 62% of farmers currently identify their primary income is made from an off-farm job. Creating affordable health care options can result in more on-farm opportunities for those working to sustain Ohio’s food production by offering plans to those who want to farm full-time.

“It’s something most of us take for granted as we move throughout our careers, that the benefit of employment means access to an employer-sponsored health plan. But that is not often the case for those in agriculture–not every agricultural business has the means to offer health care coverage as an employee benefit,” Bowers told the committee. “This is not a new problem, and our organization has been working in this space for nearly 10 years through the creation of the Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan, dedicated to small businesses in Ohio agriculture and related fields.”

Those who fall into that gap of not having access to an employer-sponsored plan, and have found the premium prices in the marketplace and elsewhere to be unaffordable, often decide to forgo coverage and take the risk. While farmers are in the business of risk management, SB 100 will allow Ohio Farm Bureau members to help better manage the risk in this space, and create a safety net that currently does not exist.

“As a grassroots membership organization, our primary goal will always be to do what is best for our members, and SB 100 will allow us to add a tool to our toolbox to keep doing so,” Bowers said. “We hope that by offering this benefit to our members in need, we will give them access to a healthier life, or the peace of mind to pursue their agricultural businesses full time.”

SB 100 will allow Ohio to join the existing network of state Farm Bureaus participating in Farm Bureau Health Plans, which is an alternative health plan that has been serving Farm Bureau members since 1993 and is currently serving Farm Bureau members in eight states, with more in the implementation process.

SB 100 was introduced by Sen. Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview) in mid-February. A companion bill in the Ohio House, HB 99 is being championed by State Rep. Bob Peterson (R-Sabina).