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Legislation that would help provide health care opportunities, close the gap in health care coverage and improve the well-being of current Ohio Farm Bureau members has unanimously passed out of the Ohio Senate.

SB 100, championed by Sen. Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview), would offer farm families access to affordable, personalized health care plans, particularly those 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.

“Health care options for farm families are very minimal, and creating a new option with Farm Bureau Health Plans will be a game changer for many Ohio Farm Bureau members,” said Ohio Farm Bureau President Bill Patterson. “With health care being the driving factor of whether a farmer can focus solely on the farm or not, these health plans have the potential to grow the number of full-time farmers, fortifying the strength of the state’s agriculture sector and the overall health of rural Ohioans.”

Farm Bureau Health Plans, which would serve as a member benefit similar to health plans offered by a number of other state Farm Bureaus across the country, would be in addition to the Ohio Farm Bureau Health Benefits Plan, which already offers small businesses health care plans for their employees.

“The Farm Bureau Health Plan creates another option for Ohioans to choose from to guarantee the best health care benefit coverage for themselves and their families,” Manchester said. “Through a broad range of options and coverage, farmers can give their full focus to what they do best – farm.”

The legislation will now continue in the House, as legislators there will hear the bill and continue to engage. Farm Bureau members should continue to reach out to their legislators, thanking their senators for support, and encouraging their representatives to engage on the bill as well.