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Ohio Farm Bureau focused on expanding rural healthcare options

Ohio Farm Bureau members are one step closer to having additional access to rural healthcare options. 

Director of state policy and grassroots engagement Whittney Bowers says Senate Bill 100 would expand the organization’s current healthcare coverage options.

“The health benefits plan will continue to exist as it is,” she says. “This would give them the ability to go out and find a plan for themselves as an individual. These plans as a healthcare plan could provide a tremendous opportunity for our members.”

She tells Brownfield the legislation would benefit self-employed farm families or those without access to an employer-sponsored health plan. 

“They don’t have an employer offering an employer sponsored plan, so they just fall in that gap of not being able to afford what the premium is,” she says. “This gives them another path to look into to see if it’s something that could help them.”

The bill has been passed by the Ohio Senate and is currently in the House committee for consideration.

AUDIO: Whittney Bowers, Ohio Farm Bureau