Farmers, Ranchers Have Higher Premiums For Health Care

Farmers and ranchers on average spend about twice as much on health care than non-farmers, according to a report released on Tuesday by The Access Project, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The report was based on a 2007 survey of 2,017 noncorporate farm and ranch operators in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota (Yee, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 9/16). The survey, which was sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, had an 80% response rate (AP/Lincoln Journal Star, 9/16).

According to the report, nearly one-quarter of the respondents said medical costs contributed to financial problems for them or a member of their household (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 9/16). In addition, the report found that farmers who have financial problems spend 42% of their incomes on health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health care expenses (AP/Lincoln Journal Star, 9/16).

According to the report, farmers and ranchers who responded to the survey on average spent $11,200 on health care, compared with nonfarmers who spent an average of $5,600. According to the Star Tribune, farmers have higher average incomes and are more likely to have insurance coverage than other U.S. residents; however, most farmers purchase individual health plans, which often cost more than group coverage through a large employer (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 9/16).

Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, and sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork.org/email . The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2007 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.