MONROE - Politicians looking for solutions to the health care debate might be able to look at Wisconsin to get an idea of what a co-op can do.
The Farmers Cooperative of Wisconsin has insured farmers and agribusinesses since 2006. The network has about 2,600 members, secretary-treasurer Bill Oemichen said. The co-op is available to farmers or anyone associated with the farming industry, such as veterinarians or milk haulers.
Cooperatives allow members to join together to purchase insurance. A larger pool of members allows to avoid higher insurance rates.
To be eligible to join the co-op, a person must be between the age of 18 and 64, live or work in Wisconsin, work on a farm at least 30 hours per week, or be in a business that provides direct services to agriculture production. The average age of the co-op members is 32.
"There are about 13,000 dairy farmers in Wisconsin. We insure about one-fourth of them," Oemichen said.
He said about half of the state's farmers get their insurance through a spouse, who has an outside job. The co-op would like to insure the other half of farmers who need insurance.
Farming is traditionally considered one of the most dangerous jobs and farmers have a hard time getting affordable insurance that will cover them while they work.
The co-op covers work-related injuries. Among other benefits, the co-op offers prescription drug coverage, and no one can be denied coverage for existing health conditions.
In addition, Oemichen said, farmers also have access to up to $500 in preventive health care, which isn't subject to their deductible. Oemichen said the co-op's goal is to provide farmers with the options needed to keep people healthy as well as respond to illnesses and other medical costs.
The network has recently added dental insurance through Delta Dental.
According to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, co-ops aren't regulated by the state. The insurance company the co-op uses, in the case of the Farmer's Cooperative, Aetna, is regulated.
Patty James, Argyle, and her husband Carl, are members of the Farmer's co-op. They joined in the fall of 2007 after James left her job at Swiss Colony in Monroe.
They farm near Argyle and wanted health insurance that was affordable.
Patty James said they needed health insurance and they looked around and found the co-op's insurance rates were cheaper than what they were able to find anywhere else.
She didn't want to say how much the family paid for premiums and said the price of premiums vary from person to person. The prices depend on a person's health and what kind of benefits they choose. Each member can also choose the amount they want for a deductible.
Oemichen said deductibles range from $300 to $5,000.
According to the co-op's Web site, www.farmershealthcooperative.com, the 2009 monthly premiums were $25.24 for a single person. $49.60 for two people and $96.20 for a family.
James said the co-op required them to sign up for three years, which she said was a good idea because it keeps the member pool stable.
"We have been happy with the plan option and services provided," James wrote on the co-op's Web site.
The Farmers Cooperative of Wisconsin has insured farmers and agribusinesses since 2006. The network has about 2,600 members, secretary-treasurer Bill Oemichen said. The co-op is available to farmers or anyone associated with the farming industry, such as veterinarians or milk haulers.
Cooperatives allow members to join together to purchase insurance. A larger pool of members allows to avoid higher insurance rates.
To be eligible to join the co-op, a person must be between the age of 18 and 64, live or work in Wisconsin, work on a farm at least 30 hours per week, or be in a business that provides direct services to agriculture production. The average age of the co-op members is 32.
"There are about 13,000 dairy farmers in Wisconsin. We insure about one-fourth of them," Oemichen said.
He said about half of the state's farmers get their insurance through a spouse, who has an outside job. The co-op would like to insure the other half of farmers who need insurance.
Farming is traditionally considered one of the most dangerous jobs and farmers have a hard time getting affordable insurance that will cover them while they work.
The co-op covers work-related injuries. Among other benefits, the co-op offers prescription drug coverage, and no one can be denied coverage for existing health conditions.
In addition, Oemichen said, farmers also have access to up to $500 in preventive health care, which isn't subject to their deductible. Oemichen said the co-op's goal is to provide farmers with the options needed to keep people healthy as well as respond to illnesses and other medical costs.
The network has recently added dental insurance through Delta Dental.
According to the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, co-ops aren't regulated by the state. The insurance company the co-op uses, in the case of the Farmer's Cooperative, Aetna, is regulated.
Patty James, Argyle, and her husband Carl, are members of the Farmer's co-op. They joined in the fall of 2007 after James left her job at Swiss Colony in Monroe.
They farm near Argyle and wanted health insurance that was affordable.
Patty James said they needed health insurance and they looked around and found the co-op's insurance rates were cheaper than what they were able to find anywhere else.
She didn't want to say how much the family paid for premiums and said the price of premiums vary from person to person. The prices depend on a person's health and what kind of benefits they choose. Each member can also choose the amount they want for a deductible.
Oemichen said deductibles range from $300 to $5,000.
According to the co-op's Web site, www.farmershealthcooperative.com, the 2009 monthly premiums were $25.24 for a single person. $49.60 for two people and $96.20 for a family.
James said the co-op required them to sign up for three years, which she said was a good idea because it keeps the member pool stable.
"We have been happy with the plan option and services provided," James wrote on the co-op's Web site.