Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans one year later
Ohio Farm Bureau Health Plans offer PPO coverage with premiums independent of income, stable year-round enrollment, plus coverage options at any age for vision and dental.
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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).
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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