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WFU Opposes Unregulated Ag Health Benefit Plans

Updated: 3 days ago


The WI state Capitol building.

On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, WFU Government Relations Director, Michelle Ramirez-White testified before the Senate Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues, and Forestry to oppose Senate Bill 450 which would allow a carve-out for just one entity in Wisconsin to offer unregulated alternative agricultural health benefit plans on the state insurance market. These health plans would remove the healthiest individuals for the insurance risk pool, driving up insurance costs for all. The plans would also be unavailable to those with pre-existing conditions, like many aging farmers.


WFU member Dylan Bruce (Vernon-Crawford) and WFU Special Projects Director Layne Cozzolino were also present to testify on the repercussions of this bill for farmers with pre-existing conditions.



See WFU's full testimony below:


Chair Quinn and members of the committee, 


Thank you for the opportunity to testify on Senate Bill 450.


The Wisconsin Farmers Union is a grassroots member-driven organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people. We have advocated for the expansion of quality healthcare in Wisconsin for decades and farmers, among other groups of self-employed individuals, often find it difficult to access affordable healthcare. A lack of access to affordable healthcare creates a major barrier for prospective farmers hoping to enter into the industry, and it’s a significant cost and area of vulnerability for continuing farmers (1). For that reason, we understand the intent of SB 450, but are opposed to the way the legislation creates health plans that would place upward pressure on the rest of the insurance market and fails to offer the comprehensive coverage that rural families need. 


Our members have specifically identified support for the protections provided in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This in large part is because historically, prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), farmers were often excluded from private health insurance due to the health issues and safety risks inherent in farming. 


SB 450 stands to repeat this practice of discrimination by allowing for pre-existing condition exclusions under these ag-health plans. Wisconsin Farmers Union is concerned with how this could expose farmers who are living with pre-existing conditions to the health and financial implications that come with substandard health coverage or raised premiums under the individual market (2).


The average age of the American farmer is quickly approaching 60 years old, and farming is a dangerous job. As farmers become older, they are exposed to chemicals, they are required to do repetitive labor for their profession, and they do dangerous work. Among farmers in a 2019 USDA-funded, multi-state study, 64% reported that they or a direct family member living on the farm had a preexisting condition (3). Farmers have unique health needs and comprehensive coverage is vital to ensure farmers have access to the medications, treatments, and specialists they need. 


We are concerned that these unregulated health products will divide the individual marketplace risk pool in Wisconsin, by cherry picking the young and healthy folks and dividing the agriculture community. In other states where these plans are currently offered, it has led to raised premiums for farmers who relied upon the comprehensive coverage offered on the marketplaces and would not qualify for coverage under Farm Bureau Health Plans. These plans have also harmed private competition on the marketplaces, and persuaded insurers that sold ACA-compliant plans to leave the state (4).


Wisconsin Farmers Union is opposed to SB 450 but continues to be dedicated to working with the State Legislature to expand access to quality healthcare in Wisconsin. We urge the committee to oppose legislation providing an exemption to offer these types of unregulated health plans in Wisconsin. 


Find more details on WFU’s policy on insurance in the policy book.


(4) Lucia, K., & Corlette, S. (2017, June 16). What’s Going on in Tennessee? One Possible Reason for Its Affordable Care Act Challenges. Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. http://chirblog.org/ whats-going-tennessee-one-possible-reason-affordable-care-actchallenges/


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