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Minnesota Farm Bureau addresses health insurance concerns

The president of Minnesota Farm Bureau says many members are concerned about the consequences of fewer health insurance options.

Kevin Paap tells Brownfield there are only four providers in the state offering individual plans since Blue Cross/Blue Shield left that market in Minnesota.

“Not only the affordability of health insurance for those that farm (or have) small businesses, those individual policies.  But also the availability of health insurance.”

He says delegates addressed these issues during the Minnesota Farm Bureau annual meeting this past weekend.

“(our advice is) Don’t wait.  Talk to your agent (and) get involved with where you’re currently getting health insurance and find out what your alternatives are and what you can do.”

USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently told Brownfield there are more than two-and-a-half million uninsured rural Americans potentially eligible for marketplace coverage under Obamacare.

Vilsack says that’s one way to possibly bring expanding premium costs down.